Changing Times

IRIS MILLIONS REVIVAL AT HOTEL STEYNE

Posted on August 5th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
Sam Arnaout’s Iris Group has been busy making hay while the lights were out, significantly including a major multi-million-dollar restoration and expansion of Manly’s iconic Hotel Steyne. Sealing the deal on the Northern Beaches landmark mid-2019, Iris swiftly applied for

MR BROWNIE OPEN AND UNASHAMED

Posted on July 1st, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
Restaurant owner Jessi Singh is charging ahead with his opening of the new and slightly controversial ‘Mr Brownie’ in South Melbourne, bringing an unashamedly Indian flavour to the city pub. Singh is already a well-known pot-rattler in Melbourne, fronting his

MORRIS REOPENS ALBERT PARK LOCAL

Posted on June 3rd, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
The historic Albert Park Hotel is joining the ranks of the re-opened, following an extensive makeover to refresh the offering and usher in another new era for the Melbourne icon. The pub was built 1883 in the southern Melbourne suburb

ROYAL OAK PARRAMATTA GONE AT 197

Posted on May 22nd, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
Parramatta’s iconic Royal Oak Hotel is no more, as demolition begins on one of Sydney’s oldest pubs to make way for the $2.4bn Parramatta light rail. An inn was established at the site, on the corner of Church and Ross

HISTORIC KING’S HEAD WILL NOT REOPEN

Posted on April 29th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
The historic King’s Head Hotel is one of the first pubs to formally pronounce it will not reopen after the mandatory closure period, as the financial burden proves too much. The King’s Head has been trading since 1876, and for

HALLMARK REVIVES THE LEFTY’S LEGEND

Posted on March 4th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
Brisbane good-time venue Lefty’s is back, Hallmark Group reviving its systemic Americana and swinging the doors open again last week.   Lefty’s Music Hall is a honkey-tonk style venue with rockabilly flair on Caxton Street, in the heart of the

RETURN TO BIRREGURRA

Posted on January 20th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
Just two months after its farewell party and locals fearing the taps may stay dry indefinitely, new operators have proudly swung the doors back open to Birregurra epicentre the Royal Mail Hotel. Birregurra is a farming community of 540 people,

FAREWELL 200-YEAR-OLD ROYAL OAK

Posted on January 17th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
The old girl of Parramatta has lost the battle and will soon be demolished to make way for the light rail. A pub was established on the corner of Parramatta’s Church and Ross Streets in 1813, adjacent to Cobb &

SLY FOX LOSES BID FOR FREEDOM

Posted on January 15th, 2020 by Clyde Mooney
One of the great late-night venues of Sydney’s inner west will stop the music for the last time this Saturday as the Sly Fox loses its fight to retain 24-hour trading. As reported in November, since 1999 the Sly Fox

WILLIAM WALLACE BIDS FAREWELL

Posted on December 13th, 2019 by Clyde Mooney
After two decades manning the bar and watching Balmain transform, Gary Cowan has sold his famed William Wallace and development plans that will see it transform and literally welcome in locals. Following several years at Rozelle’s Merton Hotel, Cowan bought