MITCH ‘RE-EMERGED’ AS MODERN LOCAL
Stoic suburban The Mitch of Alexandria has adopted a new but classic community-led approach under Phil Anderson’s Rum Rebellion Hospitality Group. Built 1920, first trading as the Balaclava Hotel, the pub set on a corner of Mitchell Road was long
SA PUBS PUT MATESHIP ON THE MENU
South Australians are being encouraged to get back to the local this August, with over 110 pubs across the state joining forces for SA Cheers Together. Running from 1 to 31 August, the month-long initiative from the Australian Hotels Association
JAMES SQUIRE TAPS INTO PASSIONFRUIT
James Squire is taking a different route into the RTD category, with Passionfruit Soda now rolling out on tap across venues Australia-wide. The 4% ABV serve combines a juicy passionfruit hit with a crisp finish, drawing on the familiar flavour
AVC POSTS STRONG RESULTS
As Australians continue to swelter under high inflation, Australian Venue Co has reported a significant bump in earnings largely by maintaining its strategy of family-friendly and value offerings. In FY26 the country’s second-largest pubs group further expanded its ever-growing portfolio
REVIVAL-READY ROYAL HITS THE MARKET
The Royal Hotel in Clifton Hill, which closed almost a decade ago and was nearly turned into apartments, is now being sold by private owners. Set on a 736sqm corner, around four kilometres north-east of the Melbourne CBD, the three-storey
THE FLYING FOX PUTS A BRITISH SPIN ON THE LOCAL
Forget the sprawling Melbourne pub. The Flying Fox is taking a more intimate approach to the neighbourhood local, with a British pub ethos. The latest opening from the team behind St Kilda’s The Lion & Wombat has landed on Bridge
DUBBO LOCALS TURN OVER THE GARDEN
One of Dubbo’s most recognised family-friendly hotels, the Maas brothers’ Garden Hotel, has changed hands between loyal locals in a discreet off-market transaction. The large two-storey pub boasts a long history in the city, around 400 kilometres north-west of Sydney,
ALH’S ESPLANADE HOTEL SET TO REOPEN AFTER $11.5M REVAMP
Brighton's historic Esplanade Hotel is set to reopen next month following an $11.5 million redevelopment that includes the launch of a new boutique beachfront hotel. The landmark Adelaide venue has been closed since October while owner ALH Group completed a
MERIVALE GETS THE SACK
Merivale frontman Justin Hemmes has signed on the line for Merivale to acquire the Solotel-operated Sackville Hotel in inner west hotspot Rozelle. In May the Sackville was brought to market along with the Bank Hotel in Newtown and The Clock
THE NEXT ROUND: WHAT VICTORIA’S ELECTION COULD MEAN FOR HOSPITALITY
With the Victorian State Election due in November, pubs have opportunity to examine what each party is offering the hospitality sector. The incumbent Labor Government has continued to position itself as a major supporter of arts, culture and the night-time
