Hawthorn pubs: Ramblers Ale Works to open on Riversdale Rd at site of old homewares store

As Melbourne’s food and drink venues rebound from the pandemic, along comes a brewery in Hawthorn set to become an instant favourite.

Ramblers Ale Works is set to open on Riversdale Rd, Hawthorn, at the site of a former homewares store and cafe. Picture: Supplied.

Craft beer lovers will soon have a new local watering hole in the heart of Hawthorn, with a former mechanics to be transformed into a brewhouse.

Ramblers Ale Works will open at 96 Riversdale Rd in Hawthorn later this year, near the busy Glenferrie Rd corner.

The 349sq m site was originally a mechanics and was recently home to a fashion and homewares store with a cafe.

Ramblers is set to initially offer eight craft beers brewed on-site, ranging from tropical and pale ales and IPAs, to a stout and a watermelon sour.

It will also be dishing up bar food including burgers, buttermilk-fried chicken and banh mi.

According to its website, Ramblers was formed by mates from an old home brew club, and is promising to be “a place to find good beer, a place to find fine food, and a place to come together.”

Co-owner Ben Leslie said the brewery wanted to ride a wave of support which he felt had increased for craft brewers and local businesses during COVID-19.

“The craft brewery bars have done well through covid because they focuses on immediate surrounds and people want to support their local community,” he said.

“People are more taking more care with looking at where things come from, and craft beer is always made on site by people who are the friendly little guys.

“We’re super excited and can’t wait to expand on the community we started with.”

Real estate agency Fitzroys leased the venue to Ramblers in a five-year deal worth $100,000 per year.

Fitzroys manager Tom Fisher said the site had retained its red brick walls, concrete floor and skylights which presented ideal character elements for the brewery.

“The established and growing catchment of Hawthorn and the inner east already has a number of high-quality hospitality offerings across its retail strips, but the evolution of the area has seen demand grow for new and unique offerings like this,” Mr Fisher said.

Ramblers joins Ringwood’s 8-Track brewing in the new wave of independent breweries opening in Melbourne’s east.

8-Track is set to open in May on Yallourn Parade near Heatherdale railway station, boasting a rotating selection of 12 beers on tap along with food.

The much-loved Hawthorn Hotel is also set to re-open in May after it originally closed for good during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Venue operator Australian Venue Co struck a deal with Swinburne University to revamp the Burwood Rd site, which will contain a refurbished pub and sports bar.

The university will operate the second level and transform it into a functions and co-working space for students and guests.