Knox Irish pub to close at the end of the month after 17 years at Knox Ozone
UPDATE: Westfield Knox has confirmed the beloved Irish pub will close by the end of the month after 17 years in Knox Ozone - but it might not be gone for good.
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UPDATE: Westfield Knox has confirmed its beloved Irish pub will close by the end of the month after 17 years in Knox Ozone.
The Seamus O’Toole’s Irish pub, commonly known as ‘The Irish’ or ‘The Rish’, opened in 2002 as a feature of the new Knox Ozone precinct.
The Wantirna South pub has become famous for its Monday night industry drinks, weekend parties and food, particularly its chicken parmigianas and steaks.
Westfield Knox centre manager Kristian Nicholls told Knox Leader this morning the pub’s owner had informed the centre of its decision to close.
“The owner of Seamus yesterday notified Westfield Knox of his decision to close later this month,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Both Seamus and Westfield Knox have jointly agreed to continue their longstanding, constructive relationship with a view to exploring possible future partnerships within Knox and the broader Westfield portfolio.”
The pub’s management has been contacted for comment and confirmation of its closing date, which Knox Leader understands is likely to be Sunday, June 2.
What are your favourite memories of The Irish? Did you meet your future husband or wife there? Email us at knox@leadernewspapers.com.au
The Irish is now set to join fellow longstanding tenants including Paesano and Hush Bar as recent departures from Knox Ozone.
This week, Knox Leader has received messages and emails from readers saying the pub will be closing in the first week of June following a breakdown in rental negotiations with Westfield Knox.
One reader wrote that management had been seeking a discount on their alleged $60,000-a-month rent to keep doors open.
Olinda’s Jackson Griffiths — a regular at the pub for four years — created a Facebook event ‘The Last Goodbye’ on Monday after friends who work at the pub told him it was closing.
The event, scheduled for next Monday, May 27, has more than 1800 people listed as attending.
Mr Griffiths told Knox Leader he was “gobsmacked” and “heartbroken” and wanted to give the pub “the recognition it deserves”.
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He said he didn’t expect the reaction to his event to be so strong and “didn’t want it to be blown up into the proportions it is now”.
“It shows how much love and passion people have for the place,” he said.
“People have been saying ‘our Monday nights are ruined’, it shows how much an influence it had on the people of our generation.”
Meanwhile, the pub’s longstanding DJ, Luke Williams, posted on his Facebook page yesterday morning asking for requests on the final song to be played at the pub. The post has since been deleted.
“So it seems I will be the DJ pressing play on the last ever song played at The Irish after an amazing 16 year run. What song is fitting for the last ever? My thinking at this stage is Closing Time by Semisonic,” he wrote.
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