The Courier was granted a special sneak preview for the piano bar, which aims to bring something different to Ballarat.

In Melbourne and Geelong, intimate venues featuring professional piano players leading the entire bar in song are becoming popular - a new one is opening in Preston soon, for example.

Uptown Ballarat's venue manager Shane Pungitore said he was excited to see how things turn out, with the baby grand piano already installed, and retro neon lights on the way.

"If it gets loud, you start singing, and everyone starts singing along," he said enthusiastically, showing a video of a night at another venue.

"One thing I'm really excited about at the moment is the feedback when we explain to people what the concept is."

A 10-year hospitality veteran, Mr Pungitore said the bar would complement others in the neighbourhood, with a late licence, a lineup of cocktails (with a few "surprise" signature cocktails) and potential partnerships with artists.

He added he was keen to see up-and-coming musicians, including those studying at university, performing in the bar.

"I'm liking this open mic night on Wednesdays, one night it could be music, or comedy, or slam poetry - just something different, and creative, and exciting," he said.

The name Uptown came from the feeling Mr Pungitore wanted to allude to - though the connection to Billy Joel is a happy accident.

"It's not upper class, it's just uptown - then if people want to think of Uptown, Piano Man, Billy Joel - that's great," he said, smiling.

He added to keep an eye out for news on phase two of the project - a redevelopment upstairs.

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