Get your dose of madness

It's been a year since Obs residents Olivia and Richard decided to take on their vision of opening up a community space for Obs locals.

A Touch of Madness was their favourite place to go for many years and when it shut down, the two knew they had to revive it, Olivia said. "We're thrilled it has become the thriving community space we always envisioned."

Their bar and restaurant lies in a converted Victorian house that provides adequate space for various occasions and it seems that there is always a local group event or meeting occurring.

On Tuesdays, a group plays GO, a Chinese strategy board game.

A vibrant chess group meets on Wednesdays and they always welcome new players.

Each Thursday, A Touch of Madness hosts a weekly "Off the Wall Poetry" group in the cosy lounge while the Cape Town Irish Session band plays lively Irish music at the bar.

Every third and fourth Thursday of the month, there is a quiz night for local charities.

On Saturday afternoons there's always a fun crowd hanging out in the front courtyard listening to the 'Selective Hearing' DJ crew.

Pop in on a Friday or Saturday night and you're bound to find a local band playing, or a dress-up party or even a silent disco!

There are always friends to be made on the front steps or at the bar.

Olivia and Richard, both social activists, encourage local non-profits and charities to host fundraising events in their space too.

Reclaim the City, Obs Soup Kitchen, Operation Smile, Signature of Hope and African Impact all host regular fundraising events at the venue.

Richard is an avid craft beer brewer and brews the aptly named '

Drunken Donkey' Summer Ale exclusively for A Touch of Madness customers.

His passion for brewing shines through, and he is the reason that there is a wide and changing selection of local craft beers on tap.