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 of Albert Park, on the northern shores of Port Phillip Bay. In the 1930s the façade was adorned with distinctive porthole windows, and since the ‘80s the entire exterior has been a resplendent white.
Chris Morris’ family, proprietors of Colonial Leisure Group (CLG), have called Albert Park home for many years, and in 2014 they acquired the freehold of the precinct’s pub.
Reflecting years of strong patronage, the Hotel was in need of a makeover and rethink, and CLG commissioned Six Degrees Architects and renowned stylist Anna Roberts to “breathe new life” into the once dark, enclosed space.
Resuming trade today, the APH’s new incarnation embraces the solid bones and aged brickwork, while welcoming in torrents of natural light courtesy of a four-storey atrium with expansive windows.
There are four distinct zones, each sporting its own curated design. The warm timer front bar, boasting its own fig tree, is joined by the new restaurant, Happy Valley, and complemented by the APH’s casual on-street dining and sophisticated upstairs bar and lounge.
New head chef Karloong Yee leads the kitchen, delivering contemporary and classic dishes celebrating local and sustainably sourced produce. There are plans to extend the dining service soon to include a takeaway menu.
Happy Valley takes its name from a Hong Kong racecourse, and the décor reflects the Chinese influence in the menu, seen in blue-and-white porcelain ornaments and antique Chinese cabinets. Roberts sourced similarly complementary decorations for each zone, placing plenty of vintage and original local artefacts.
The drinks menu continues the dedication, the wine list championing Victorian and Australian producers plus some vintage European premiums. The cocktail list takes inspiration from the flavours of the food, seen in the Espresso Martini, using Szechuan spice.
The Morris family is reportedly excited to be reopening their local as the first CLG pub to emerge from the shutdown, and APH general manager Brad Hammond says after the top-to-bottom overhaul plus a mandated closure, they can’t wait to finally swing open the doors.
“It has been a long time coming for us,” he says.
“We are excited to bring something fresh and exciting to Albert Park’s local culture, while continuing the legacy that the pub holds for greater Melbourne.
“People are craving community and connection now more than ever, and we want to create a venue that can stand proudly as the beating heart of the Albert Park community.”
