Changing Times

HISTORIC GRAND VIEW LOOKING FUTURE-PROOF

Posted on October 22nd, 2025 by Clyde Mooney
Queensland’s ‘grand old dame’ the Grand View Hotel has reopened its doors after an extensive sympathetic renovation by Kickon Group. The Grand View (GVH) overlooks North Stradbroke Island, from the Brisbane beachside suburb of Cleveland. Established 1851, it is recognised

KICKON REBOOT THE DOOT

Posted on October 17th, 2025 by Clyde Mooney
Melbourne’s stately Doutta Galla Hotel – aka The Doot – is back, under new Kickon custodians and sporting a new look serving up modern hospitality within treasured heritage. Established in 1889, the three-storey Victorian hotel commands the intersection of Racecourse

HURLEY’S TORRENS ARMS $2M GLOW UP TURNS HEADS

Posted on October 17th, 2025 by Jane Louise
The 168-year-old Torrens Arms (TA) Hotel, part of the Hurley Hotel Group, has undergone a stunning $2 million transformation. The revamp has given the Adelaide venue a contemporary European elegance, brightening its style while retaining the feel that the locals

PIPER REVIVES THE OLD COMMODORE

Posted on October 15th, 2025 by Clyde Mooney
Glenn Piper has relaunched the Old Commodore Hotel, reimagining the McMahons Point landmark with a renewed spirit and design that celebrates its historic roots. An institution of Blues Point Rd for 169 years, the new Old Commodore celebrates the legend

UNIVERSAL ROLLS OUT A REVISED RIVERVIEW

Posted on October 13th, 2025 by Clyde Mooney
Consolidating its monopoly in the suburb, Universal has reopened its repositioned Riverview Hotel, following an extensive refurbishment. Late 2024 the Kospetas family tied up Tempe when it bought the only other hotel in the southern Sydney locale, joining its Tempe

AVC RESTORES LOCAL QUEENSCLIFFE FAVOURITE

Posted on September 29th, 2025 by Jane Louise
Australian Venue Co (AVC) has reopened local favourite The Esplanade Hotel in Victoria’s Queenscliffe after extensive renovations. Locals voted the 146-year-old pub return to its original name, following its previous stint as Queenscliffe Brewhouse. Officially opening Tuesday last week, Mitch

ALH’S HISTORIC PALACE HOTEL REOPENS AFTER $7.5M MAKEOVER

Posted on September 26th, 2025 by Jane Louise
The famous Palace Hotel of inner Melbourne has reopened, following a major renovation by Endeavour Group’s pub arm, Australian Leisure & Hospitality (ALH). The group says this significant investment in the Camberwell pub, established in 1888, is a testament to

NO MORE MONKEY BUSINESS: WOODPORT

Posted on September 17th, 2025 by Jane Louise
Beloved Central Coast hospitality icon the Sunken Monkey has recently closed for extensive renovations and a rebrand back to days of old. The pub, which sits on the banks of Erina Creek, will now be known again as the Woodport

NEW CHAPTER FOR IRISH PUB

Posted on September 12th, 2025 by Jane Louise
Beloved inner-city Irish pub The Quiet Man, which called last drinks on St Patrick’s Day this year, reopened last week as Auntie Annie’s Hotel. The Kensington watering hole, located near Flemington Racecourse, opened in 1998, having being designed and built

ROCKY WELCOMES BACK ITS BELOVED LEICHHARDT

Posted on August 15th, 2025 by Jane Louise
Rockhampton welcomed back its beloved Leichhardt Hotel last Wednesday when it reopened after a complete rebuild. Operated by QVC, a joint venture between Australian Venue Co and Coles’ former Spirit Hotels, the hotel has now put a contemporary twist on