The sticky carpet's gone, the dark and grungy public bar is awash with natural light, blonde wood and chandeliers, and the keg cellar has become a private dining room.

The East Brunswick Hotel lay dormant for three years before the Trimont Group, which also owns the Coopers Inn in Melbourne's Exhibition Street, took over 18 months ago and gave the place an overhaul.

Group executive chef Ron O'Bryan and his lieutenant, chef Nick Creswick, have designed a menu with loads of small share plates – sticky lamb ribs, zucchini fritters – burgers and buns, including a cheese-steak sandwich, and meats such as Cape Grim rump and berkshire pork neck cooked over a wood grill.

There's a cocktail bar and function space upstairs, and 12 boutique apartment-style hotel rooms are almost ready to open.

It's open Sun-Wed 11am-11pm and Thu-Sat 11am-1am at 280 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, 03 8354 0100. Hilary McNevin