Bill Young’s reimagined Illinois Hotel reopened today following a multi-million-dollar refit and new inner west-centric flavour.
Five Dock’s Illinois was snapped up early 2020 by former Wallaby great and respected publican Bill Young for around $15 million.
Armed with a vision of what he wanted the Hotel to be, Young closed it shortly before the pandemic struck and it has not traded since.
Previously known as a late-night ‘men’s gallery’ with tabletop dancing, it has been revised with a new direction as family-friendly and food-focused, sporting a big central bar, modern gaming space, beer garden and reportedly one of the best audio-visual offerings in Sydney.
The new interior, designed by Thomas Jacobsen, counts a luxurious 17-metre curved lounge and liberated an original terrazzo mosaic floor when the old carpet was torn up.
“It’s one of those big, central front bars you don’t see very often. We’re pretty impressed with it,” Young told PubTIC.
Having researched what kind of food offering was current, and what was available in the area, foodservice will be steered by the crew behind the controversial Down N’ Out burgers, doing American southern fried chicken.
“They’ve got a good following in the inner west, and we thought that might be the right fit for what we’re trying to do,” explained Young.
“We want to have a crack at bringing some people from that inner west area, who would like what we’re doing with the pub.”
Ben Kagan’s burger venture has been in trademark battles with giant US chain In-N-Out, prompting a change of name to Nameless Bar.
A DA was lodged at the Illinois for a kitchen, but until it is finalised the new Fat Belly Jacks – serving “Nashville” fried chicken, with five levels of spice – will be cooking in a purpose-built food truck, set up and ready to go in the beer garden. Patrons can dine outside or in the newly opened interior spaces.
Stage two of the renovation will see the new kitchen inside, as well as a 120-seat bistro, with plans for the upstairs accommodation yet to be announced.
Purchase of the pub included an adjacent house, which Young says he is hoping to “bowl over” and expand the beer garden. A large carpark next door has also been acquired, offering significant amenity on bustling Parramatta Road.
Bill Young played for Australia in over 40 games, including the 2003 World Cup Final. These days he oversees a portfolio of Sydney pubs, notably the top-performing Five Dock Hotel, bought from Lantern in 2016, the twice-owned Friend in Hand in Glebe, the proximate Concord Hotel, Mortlake’s Palace Hotel, and the Wiseman’s Ferry Inn.
He says the group has been “ticking along alright” although f&b has been tough, and he’s positive about the Illinois’ potential, ahead of a return to NSW patrons being allowed to stand again, from 17 March.
“Then pubs get back to normal and we get on with business,” he says.
“I think it’s a good offering for this sort of area.”
