Changing Times

LOUD AND PROUD: IMPY GOES UNIVERSAL

Posted on September 15th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
Universal has put its touch of flare on party palace The Imperial of Erskineville, revealing a revamped icon to burst back into the limelight. The ‘jeujed’ dancing queen of the inner west has reportedly been painted “shades of fabulous” with

NEW DIRECTION FOR GRAND JUNCTION AND BROWNS PLAINS

Posted on September 13th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
Australian Venue Co has rolled out another two overhauled local watering holes, bringing the Grand Junction Tavern and Browns Plains Hotel back online after multi-million-dollar investments. The Grand Junction of Pennington reopened after a $2 million renovation pitching a new

APPLEJACK TURNS ON THE TAPHOUSE

Posted on September 11th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
Sydney-based Applejack hospitality group has jumped into the next addition to the portfolio, reinvigorating and recreating Darlinghurst’s iconic Taphouse. Following a “serious nip and tuck” top-to-bottom refurbishment, the heritage pub reopens to the public Wednesday (13 September), claiming a concept

BRIGHTON’S MARINE GOES UNDER

Posted on September 4th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
The popular Marine Hotel in south Melbourne has suddenly closed, blaming a cocktail of council headaches, rising costs and NIMBYs. The robust Georgian-style pub has operated since 1856. In 2013 sale of the freehold fetched $13 million, sold at auction

CANBERRA IS BACK IN BALLARAT

Posted on September 1st, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
The historic Hotel Canberra of Ballarat is being revived under the captaincy of two brothers and a chef, as the region blooms as a tourism destination and grows a reputation for dining and boutique accommodation. Previous known as The Columbian,

NEW ERA AT THE COURT HOUSE

Posted on August 18th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
The historic Court House Hotel of North Melbourne is back, backed by a team of Victorian pub tragics and serving a new stint as a gastro pub. Originally named the Peacock Hotel when it was built in 1857, it was

BELL TOLLS FOR GRENFELL’S RAILWAY

Posted on August 9th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
Rising costs and falling trade have taken their toll on another NSW regional pub and small business, bidding farewell to a traditional local of Grenfell, the Railway, after more than a century. The town of Grenfell is around 370 kilometres

PUBLIC GROUP BREAKS INTO MELBOURNE AT CLIFTON HOUSE

Posted on August 4th, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
Jon Adgemis’ Public group is opening its first Victorian venue, transforming Kew heritage into and back to the Clifton Hotel in partnership with acclaimed chef Guy Grossi.  The landmark Melbourne pub was built 1868 on Kew’s High Street, and in

ROCKY’S LAKES CREEK RETURNS

Posted on August 2nd, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
The historic Lakes Creek Hotel of Rockhampton is coming back to life after years in the dark, under new, dedicated revivalist owners. Established circa 1895, the pub is the second-oldest in town, after the nearby Criterion, which was built 1890.

NEW CLOTHES AND TITLE FOR NUNDAH’S ROYAL

Posted on July 31st, 2023 by Clyde Mooney
Australian Venue Co has revealed another major renovation of a landmark Queensland pub, bringing a stylish new look and revised name to Nundah’s Royal. Opened in 1888 in Brisbane’s northside as the Royal English Hotel, in recent years the pub