Open & Closed

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

MATILDA BAY LAUNCHES HEALESVILLE PUB AS SEXTON RETURNS

Posted on December 20th, 2019 by Clyde Mooney
Australian craft beer royalty Matilda Bay will throw open the doors to its new pub-brewery in the Yarra Valley on Boxing Day, led by the returning founder, Phil Sexton. Sexton began Matilda Bay 35 years ago, partnering with Carlton &

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

THE OAKS PRESENTS ALALA’S AND TAKEAWAY INNOVATION

Posted on December 11th, 2019 by Clyde Mooney
Sydney landmark The Oaks has unveiled the final stage in the biggest remake of its history, welcoming Alala’s garden conservatory and an innovative new takeaway offering to the 133-year-old pub. In 1975 David ‘Taffy’ Thomas, son of Alala Thomas, bought

COLOSIMOS UNVEIL HILLS DESTINATION MULLANE’S

Posted on December 9th, 2019 by Clyde Mooney
The Colosimo family’s extravagant new build Mullane’s Hotel at Baulkham Hills is now open, offering an epicentre for Italian craftsmanship and consumption. The new multi-level Hotel near Norwest train station features on the ground floor a traditional public bar, VIP

MERIVALE’S MUCH-AWAITED COOGEE MIDDLE AND SUMMER PARTY

Posted on December 6th, 2019 by Clyde Mooney
Five years after acquiring the Coogee Pavilion, Merivale is unveiling the much-anticipated middle level, boasting three distinct and well-considered spaces deserving of the location. Taking the keys to the former Coogee Palace in 2014, Justin Hemmes’ hospitality juggernaut swiftly reworked

LAUNDY LAUNCHES THE LOCKER ROOM

Posted on December 4th, 2019 by Clyde Mooney
Pub industry stalwart Arthur Laundy recently unveiled his second greenfield build this year, providing Sydney Olympic Park with a new purpose-built hotel within a stone’s throw of ANZ Stadium. For more than half a century Laundy bought and sold dozens

BREWDOG BITES INTO BRISBANE

Posted on November 25th, 2019 by Clyde Mooney
Scottish craft brewing juggernaut BrewDog has set paw in Australia, last week opening its first venue Down Under, adjoining its shiny new state-of-the-art brewery. Established in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, the independent brewery is striving to make