Australian Venue Co is breathing new life into the darkened landmark Brunswick pub, the Sarah Sands Hotel, slated to re-open in May.
Built 1854, the Sarah Sands Hotel is an institution of Melbourne. In recent years it traded as the Irish-themed Bridie O’Reilly’s, but that closed in 2017.
In October 2019 AVC acquired the leasehold and has commenced a makeover armed with a budget in excess of $2 million, working with architects Studio Y to deliver a new pub dining room, kitchen and bar inside the two-storey venue.
The menu by executive chef Telina Menzies will centre around high-quality pub classics, accompanied by hearty vegetarian versions of pub favourites.
Melbourne-based AVC already operates a posse of historic pubs, including Melbourne’s oldest licensed pub, The Duke of Wellington in the CBD, O’Connell’s in South Melbourne, Auburn Hotel in Hawthorn and the Middle Park Hotel, and values their heritage and character.
The group plans to source new Sarah Sands front- and back-of-house staff locally, and taking pride in reviving a long-shuttered local is eager to “return it to the local community” of Brunswick.
“This pub has great bones, and a long history in the community,” says AVC CEO Paul Waterson.
“Finding ways to revitalise heritage venues and update them to meet the needs of locals is something we take so much pride in at Australian Venue Co. We can’t wait to get the neighbours in for a first look!”
