Australian Venue Co’s investment into its southern venues continues with launch of the reinvigorated Victoria Hotel in Yarraville and the Rooftop Bar and offering at Albury’s Albion Hotel.
After four months closed, the Yarraville’s Victoria Hotel re-opened with a refreshed look on 2 December, under new management since acquisition by AVC in October.
The landmark local has been serving its community since 1873 and the revitalisation aims to make it the “best family-friendly venue in the west” while remaining a destination for sports fans and casual catch-ups, and with greater focus on functions.
Executive chef Christian Abbott has created a new menu featuring quality seasonal produce, ranging pub classics, pizzas, burgers and salads, in a modern dining atmosphere suited to work lunches, group dinners, date nights and mid-week meals.
There is also a ‘mix & match’ menu for kids, in the Kids’ Bistro & Playroom, now boasting new play equipment and regular entertainment programming to keep little ones busy while parents relax.
Family Funday Sunday presents kids’ entertainment from 12-3pm, with rotating activities such as face painting, balloon artists, fairies and more.
The twin function rooms will host corporate events, birthdays and social celebrations, but also entertainment-led events.
AVC is even offering a function space event valued at $2,500, including food and drinks, DJ, bespoke invites and exclusive use of a function space, as part of the pub’s reopening celebrations.
Celebrations will see ‘festive season’ $10 cocktails 5-7pm every Friday through December, and ‘Welcome Weekend’ 10-12 Dec.
There will be free welcome drinks daily – available after registration on the website. The Friday will offer free canapés in the Sports Bar from 5-6pm, Saturday offers free kids’ entertainment, with jumping castle, face painting and balloon artists, from 12-3pm, and on Sunday the kids’ entertainment goes on again, accompanied by live acoustic music in the Sports Bar from 1-5pm.
“Locals and the wider Melbourne community alike will love the refreshed look and it will be a great place to meet family and friends,” says venue manager Ben Lougoon.
“Whether it’s a quiet after work drink, weekend get together, kids’ party or social celebration, we can’t wait to see everyone back at the Victoria Hotel.”
Just north of the Victorian border, the revised Albion Hotel is opening its renovated Rooftop Bar to the public for the first time and revitalised function spaces, in time for the festive season, 10 December.
Renovations have been sympathetic to the historic venue’s original design, incorporating touches of Art Deco-inspired layering and finishes.
The new 80-pax Rooftop Bar space was previously only available for private functions and events, but will now open every day to the general public. The Rooftop is reportedly all about “snacking and sipping” on classic cocktails and grazing dishes, such as meat & cheese boards, charred chorizo and fried popcorn chicken.
On the weekends, 2-4pm every Saturday and Sunday, the rooftop will host Albury’s first Bottomless Brunch – two hours of bottomless sips, on selected cocktails, beer and wine, plus an item from the new brunch menu, for $55pp. And on Thursday nights, 7-9pm, comes Bottomless Fried Chicken, offering unlimited fried chicken plus all the sauces and sides, including mash and gravy, pickle slaw, chips and mayo and mac’n’cheese, for $25pp.
The Rooftop will also provide package options, such as the Hens & Celebration deal for $35pp, providing secured space on the roof, a cocktail on arrival and snacks with guests.
Beneath, the transformed function spaces re-open at the same time, with upgraded AV setup, new furniture, carpets, wall panelling, painting and bar space, catering to birthdays and weddings.
The Riverina Room, previously the Long Room, will seat 100 people or 200 standing; the Tattersall’s Room, previously called The First Floor, seats 40 people or 100 standing.
