Melbourne’s pub history is a rich and fascinating brew of tales, places and characters worth remembering. Fortunately, a heritage building on the corner of Russell and Little Collins Streets was recently revitalised, with a suitable nod to the past.
Formerly known as the Crafty Squire since 2015, the cornerstone pub has returned to its roots and reopened as Hickens Hotel – its original moniker nearly 160 years ago. The reimagined watering den has undergone a $12 million renovation and now spans four immersive levels of food, drinks and entertainment, aiming to cater to everyone from lunchtime diners and sports fans to the after-work crowd.
“Hickens Hotel was named after the pub’s manager, landlord and once infamous British boxer and Australian champion, Ebenezer 'Abe' Hicken, notorious for holding legendary boxing matches back in the 1870s,” explains Giuseppe Lacava, Hickens Hotel's venue manager. “We’ve taken Abe’s love of sport and injected it into this iconic venue.”
Take the second level, for example, where you'll now find the aptly named Abe's Athletic Hall: a retro-themed space featuring massive screens for viewing your fave sports live and loud, plus karaoke rooms, cosy booths and a nostalgia-inducing array of arcade games and foosball to transport you right to the good ol' days.
While the street-level Hickens Front Bar has you covered for a traditional Melbourne pub experience, the Carlton Lounge next door has become the first bar in Australia dedicated solely to Carlton Draught – decked out in a 1970s rumpus room aesthetic, complete with copper tank beer, vintage memorabilia and a pool table.
If it’s good grub you’re after, Level One is dishing up playful twists on reimagined Aussie pub fare, including cheesy Vegemite garlic bread, comforting pub pies and a bread and butter pudding complete with sprinkles. And since we love our sky-high drinking havens in this city, the cherry on top is a brand new open-air rooftop bar offering CBD skyline views, long lunches and late-night cocktails every day of the week.
A regular program of events like trivia nights, pool competitions and live acoustic music promises to keep the pub’s atmosphere abuzz, while karaoke packages and game-day booth bookings are available in Abe's Athletic Hall all throughout the year.
Feeling a pub meal or a post-footy sing sesh is on the cards? Make a reservation or find out more at the website.
Hickens Hotel is located at 127 Russell Street, Melbourne, and is open seven days from 11am until late.
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