Railway Hotel Brunswick: Then And Now

The Railway Hotel in Brunswick, Melbourne, has had a chequered history. The 140-year-old pub, which has also served as a morgue and a hostel, closed in 2016 following a drug bust. After falling into disrepair, it was bought by Melbourne hospitality collective Riverland Group and has since been renovated and resurrected as Hotel Railway, a 965-person mega-pub. The new pub features a range of food and drink options, including classic pub grub, an Eastern Mediterranean menu, and a cocktail bar. Punters can choose from five different spaces within the venue, including a main bar, a corner bar, a dining room, a beer garden, and a courtyard.

The Railway Hotel's history

The Railway Hotel in Brunswick, Melbourne, is a three-storey, nearly 140-year-old pub on Albert Street with a chequered history. It has served as a morgue and a hostel, among other things, and some even say it is haunted. The building was heritage-listed and had become a well-known north-side institution.

In 2016, the good times came to an end when the pub closed following a drug bust. Two of its then managers were charged with drug offences, and the once-thriving pub fell into disrepair. The building was ransacked, with people looking for remnants of its past, and it became a hub for urban explorers.

However, in 2022, the Railway Hotel was gloriously resurrected as Hotel Railway, a 965-person mega-pub, thanks to the efforts of the Melbourne hospitality collective Riverland Group. The renovation was extensive, with crisp, textured white walls, polished timber floorboards, and terracotta accents. The pub's historical facade was maintained, and the interior was redesigned with multiple spaces and food offerings, including an Eastern Mediterranean diner, a late-night vinyl-only bar, and a sprawling beer garden.

The new owners wanted to preserve the pub's roots and ensure it still felt lived in. The main bar features a 17-metre brick centrepiece, with a lengthy drinks list offering a variety of beers, cocktails, and vermouth. There are two food menus: one featuring classic pub grub and the other offering a slightly more upscale Eastern Mediterranean menu, reflecting the cultural heritage of the community it serves.

The Railway Hotel also offers a variety of spaces for patrons to enjoy, including a spacious dining room, a laid-back corner bar, and a family-friendly beer garden. The second and third floors are planned for private functions, band rooms, and cheap co-working spaces for local creatives.

Today, the Railway Hotel stands as a testament to its long and colourful history, offering a unique and vibrant experience to its patrons while preserving a piece of Brunswick's past.

The 2016 drug bust

The Railway Hotel in Brunswick, Melbourne, has a long and colourful history. The nearly 140-year-old building has served as a morgue and a hostel, and some even say it's haunted. But its most memorable chapter began in 2016 when it became the centre of a highly publicised drug bust.

Two of the pub's managers were charged with a string of drug offences in a Victoria Police sting, bringing an end to the good times at this north-side institution. The charges led to the pub's closure, and the once-thriving venue fell into disrepair. The towering building was left abandoned and fell victim to vandalism, with graffiti covering its walls and windows smashed.

During this time, the building was allegedly taken over by a rival bikie group, according to a Reddit post by a user whose ex-boyfriend lived at the hotel. The user also mentioned that the hotel was a hotspot for drug dealing.

However, the story of the Railway Hotel took a positive turn when the Melbourne hospitality collective Riverland Group stepped in to save it. They embarked on a major renovation project, breathing new life into the dilapidated venue.

The Riverland Group's co-owner, Richie Ludbrook, wanted to preserve the pub's roots while also giving it a much-needed facelift. This delicate balance was achieved by creating multiple spaces and food offerings that cater to different occasions, from casual drinks with friends to special celebrations.

The renovation process uncovered some unique features, including a secret staircase, a "Harry Potter room", and a shower with a hidden dumbwaiter. These discoveries added to the intrigue and charm of the historic building.

After nearly six years, the Railway Hotel emerged from its troubled past as Hotel Railway, a 965-person mega-pub with a fresh look and a new owner. The transformation was remarkable, with crisp white walls, polished timber floorboards, and terracotta accents replacing the graffiti and damage of its previous life.

The Riverland Group's renovation

The Riverland Group, a Melbourne hospitality collective, stepped in to save the Railway Hotel in Brunswick after it fell into disrepair following a drug bust in 2016. The renovation was extensive, with graffiti, damaged floors, and smashed windows replaced by crisp, textured white walls, polished timber floorboards, and terracotta accents. The group's co-owner, Richie Ludbrook, wanted to preserve the pub's roots, ensuring it still felt lived in.

The renovation uncovered some unique features, including a secret staircase, a "Harry Potter room", and a shower with a hidden dumbwaiter. The basement, which used to be a morgue, was converted into the pub's keg room. The historical facade of the building was maintained, with the inside transformed into a moody, late-night corner bar with dark wood furnishings and a vermouth-driven cocktail list.

The Railway Hotel now offers five distinct spaces: the main bar, a corner bar, a dining room, a beer garden, and a courtyard. The beverage menu showcases Australian makers, with local wines, tap beers, and craft brews. The cocktail menu features twists on classics, such as an Espresso Martini made with macadamia and wattleseed liquor, as well as creations using house ferments and syrups.

The food menu offers a range of options, from classic pub grub to a slightly more upscale Eastern Mediterranean menu. The open-fire kitchen pays homage to Brunswick's migrant past with Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Southern European flavours. The dining room seats 80 people and serves a charcoal-fired Eastern Mediterranean menu, including dishes like swordfish cutlet with orange chermoula and celeriac shawarma with pita, pickles, and hummus.

The sprawling beer garden, located along the train line, features European terracotta tiles and greenery, creating a family-friendly space that also serves as an extension of the dining room. The main bar, located through the old horse stables, is described as "more approachable," with communal spaces surrounding it. The renovation has transformed the Railway Hotel into a vibrant and versatile venue, offering something for everyone.

The hotel's unique features

The Railway Hotel in Brunswick, Melbourne, has a unique and chequered history. The nearly 140-year-old, three-storey building has served as a morgue and a hostel, and some even say it is haunted. The hotel has a secret staircase, a "Harry Potter room", and a shower with a hidden dumbwaiter. The basement, which used to be a morgue, has been converted into a keg room. The hotel's new owners plan to offer guided tours of these hidden areas if they can get them up to code.

The hotel has been renovated and now includes an Eastern Mediterranean diner, a late-night vinyl-only bar, and a sprawling beer garden. The main bar features a 17-metre brick bar with 12 beers on tap, including Balter XPA, Brick Lane Pale Ale, and Pirate Life Acai Sour. The cocktail menu includes classics as well as specials made with house ferments and syrups, such as a macadamia-infused espresso martini and a beetroot negroni.

The dining room serves a slightly more upscale Eastern Mediterranean menu, with dishes like swordfish cutlet with orange chermoula, celeriac shawarma, and hanger steak with fermented green chilli. The beer garden features European terracotta tiles and an elevated area built on the foundations of an old neighbouring townhouse, with a fireplace and brick wall.

The hotel also has a courtyard, a light-filled dining room with a fireplace and piano, and a 20-metre-long bar with bi-fold doors that open out to an extensive beer garden. The hotel can host events of any size, from cocktail parties to weddings, in its unique spaces, including the historical building, beer garden, and courtyard.

The new Hotel Railway

The Renovation

The renovation of the three-storey building was extensive, with each floor ransacked and vandalised, requiring years of work to replace the graffiti, damaged floors and smashed windows. The new design aesthetic features crisp, textured white walls, polished timber floorboards and terracotta accents. The historical facade of the building has been maintained.

The Bar

The main bar features a striking 17-metre brick bar with 12 beers on tap, including Balter XPA, Brick Lane Pale Ale, and Pirate Life Acai Sour. The drinks list also includes classic cocktails with a twist, such as a macadamia-infused Espresso Martini and a Beetroot Negroni. The late-night corner bar, licensed until 3am, has a dark wood aesthetic and features vinyl-only DJs.

The Dining Room

The spacious dining room offers an Eastern Mediterranean menu with small plates like fried cauliflower bites with harissa and lamb merguez sausages with baba ganoush, and mains such as swordfish cutlet with orange chermoula and celeriac shawarma with pita, pickles and hummus. The open-fire kitchen pays homage to Brunswick's migrant past with Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Southern European flavours.

The Beer Garden

The sprawling beer garden, with its European terracotta tiles and greenery, is an ideal spot to relax and enjoy a casual meal and drinks with friends. It features a large screen TV and an outdoor fireplace, making it perfect for both intimate gatherings and larger groups.

The Courtyard

Protected from the elements, the Courtyard offers a combination of low and high-top tables, accommodating large group get-togethers. It is a hidden, dog-friendly gem within the hotel.

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