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Following a $12 million transformation, one of Melbourne’s most centrally located city pubs, the Crafty Squire on Russell Street, has reopened as Hickens Hotel. Owned by Australian Venue Co (The Espy, Morris House), the four-storey, 1110-person mega-pub now has two additional levels including a newly built rooftop bar, and a sports bar on a floor not previously open to the public.

On street level is what’s billed as “Australia’s first permanent Carlton Draught bar”, a collaboration with the Melbourne-born brewery that’s pouring the whole catalogue of beers in a retro setting decked out with archival Carlton Draught posters and memorabilia.

One level up, a restaurant lined with blue banquettes and cafe curtains serves both pub classics and “playful additions that are our take on some nostalgic favourites”. There’s cheese and Vegemite garlic bread; crab and corn croquettes; and a duck leg “inspired by nan’s apricot chicken”, with a native green-curry gravy featuring lemon myrtle, wattleseed and more. The same menu is available venue-wide.

A sports and entertainment hub on level two features huge screens and bookable booths (with their own TVs, no less), plus vintage touches such as arcade games and a photo booth. Two private karaoke booths are decked out with disco balls.

The crowning glory is the blue-tiled, greenery-laden rooftop bar. Go for views of the surrounding cityscape; frozen cocktails including the Passionita with vanilla vodka, passionfruit, pineapple and lemon; and DJ sets on Friday and Saturday nights.

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