Mentone Hotel: The Edgy to reopen after long fight to turn historic building into apartments

THE historic Mentone Hotel will be restored and its doors opened to the public again after its owner struck an agreement with the council and passionate Save The Edgy campaigners.

The Edgy, aka The Mentone Hotel, is one of Beach Rd’s last remaining pubs. Picture: Jason Sammon

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THE historic Mentone Hotel will be restored and its doors open to the public again after an agreement was struck between the owner, Save The Edgy campaigners and Kingston Council.

Five months after councillors refused to accept a pared-back apartment development plan for the iconic building, and just weeks before the controversy was to be heard at VCAT, fresh plans have been accepted.

They include a pub space which had been earlier ditched by the developer.

Former regulars Jack Jansson 22, Luke Hull 22, Tristan Strange 23, Mitch Brown 24, and Julian Strange 26 in the pub’s famous foyer. . Picture: Jason Sammon

Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said he was thrilled.

“The Mentone Hotel will now be restored featuring a significant hospitality space to ensure the public can continue to enjoy the beautiful historic building,” Cr Staikos said.

“It’s great news that the developer has agreed to increase the public hospitality area and can now get to work on restoring the building and opening its doors to the community once more.”

Last year’s plans to redevelop the Mentone Hotel site attracted 43 objections.

The hotel’s doors have been closed for four years.

Save the Edgy spokesman Chris Hill said the agreement reached with the owner “far better reflects the wishes of our community”.

“It will ensure the Mentone Hotel will continue to be an attraction for people far and wide for years to come,” he said.

“We’d like to take the opportunity to thank the owner Paul Huggins for being so generous with his time over the last three and a half years and his co-operation to help reach this historic agreement.”

Paul Huggins has been praised for collaborating with lobbyists and the council on the hotels redevelopment. Picture: Susan Windmiller

In March last year, the council ordered developer Mr Huggins to return to the drawing board on his controversial plan to develop the beachside building, and to come up with a plan that met the two-storey height limit, protected and restored the building, and included a food and beverage offering.

But Mr Huggins’ new designs in November drew 58 objections, and Cr Rosemary West pushed for a refusal on the grounds of visual bulk, loss of neighbourhood character and “no community benefit or public amenity”.

Crowds gathered at The Edgy the night before it was closed down. Picture: Sharon Green.

Following the discussions and agreement, a planning permit will now be issued to allow for 26 dwellings at the site, some within the original building, and some in a new two-storey development within the existing carpark and bottleshop area.

Dedicated hospitality areas of 416 sqm will be on the ground floor plus 40 sqm in the basement.

Cr Staikos said under state heritage laws, the facade and internal staircase of the building must be preserved.

“This is a great outcome for the community,” he said.