One of North Melbourne’s classic old corner pubs, formerly the Crimean, has a new lease on life as Bobbie Peels. New owner Tony Metzner has turfed the heavy velvet curtains covering the windows and brightened the place up with a fresh coat of paint. The Russian Imperial vibe still holds strong, but it’s a fresher and less dusty version.
Metzner has personal connections to the craft beer scene, so there’s no big brewery contract and you can expect rare and interesting stuff on tap. The food menu has had a serious update with daily trips to the nearby Vic Markets to source fresh ingredients. They’ve only been open for a few weeks, and the dockets still say “Crimean” on them, but Bobbie Peels is the type of place where it’s easy to settle in and strike up a conversation with the locals. There are plans to renovate the courtyard and update the wine list – we’re looking forward to seeing it in full swing.