Westfield Knox: Wantirna South’s Irish pub to be replaced at Ozone

It was one of most popular watering holes in Melbourne’s east for nearly 20 years. But something special is in the works to replace Knox’s Irish pub.

A new brewery is set to open at the old home of the Irish Pub at Westfield Knox. Picture: Kiel Egging.

The site of Knox’s much-loved Irish pub will remain a drinking hole, with a new brewery to open in its place.

Leader can reveal Urban Alley Brewery will open its second Melbourne venue at Westfield Knox, with signage in place and construction underway.

The independent brewery opened its first venue at The District Docklands in 2018, near the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel.

The venue boasts a 25 hectolitre brewhouse and has up to 15 of its beer varieties on tap at any given time.

It describes itself as “the perfect spot for a catch-up with friends or the bring the family”, and has an entertainment area with room for up to 600 guests and an extensive pub food menu.

“Our menu features modern interpretations of traditional pub classics, teamed with our signature Urban Alley beers and our ever evolving Alley Series, as well as spirits, cocktails, cider and wines,” the brewery states on its website.

The offerings at the new Knox venue and its opening date is unclear.

Seamus O’Toole’s Irish Pub, commonly known as ‘The Irish’, opened in 2002 and was one of the last remaining original venues in Knox Ozone.

It closed for good in March 2020, with the coronavirus outbreak the final nail in its coffin after ongoing speculation about its future.

In recent months, neighbours The Sporting Globe had been using The Irish’s old outdoor area for additional seating.

Construction has begun for the Urban Alley Brewery at Westfield Knox. Picture: Kiel Egging.

The arrival of the brewery is set to boost Knox O-Zone and Westfield Knox, which have been hit by a wave of shop and venue closures.

Leader understands fellow longstanding bar LouLous has also shut for good, while the former site of Paesanos, earmarked for new bar Martini and Co, is yet to open.

Last month, it was revealed Knox’s longstanding Myer store would close in July after 40 years trading at the centre.

It is set to be replaced by a Woolworths supermarket and a new fresh food precinct in the first stage of the centre’s overhaul.

At the time, Scentre Group’s director of development Stewart White said Myer’s departure would “accelerate” plans for the centre’s long-planned redevelopment, first announced in 2014.

A former manager of The Irish told Leader they were not involved in the establishment of Urban Alley, but was working on “new ventures”.

Scentre Group was contacted for comment.