Brisbane hoteliers Ghanem Group call on public to rename their revamped heritage hotel The Fox

Brisbane hospitality kings Ghanem Group has put the call out to locals to help name one of its venues – The Fox at popular Fish Lane in South Brisbane. What gets your vote? TAKE OUR POLL

What do you think the pub should be called?

Brisbane hospitality kings Ghanem Group recently put the call out to locals to help name one of their venues – The Fox at popular Fish Lane in South Brisbane.

Brothers Nehme andAdonis Ghanem (pictured) are doing up the historic watering hole, creating a new entry on Fish Lane, and incorporating a hot new cocktail lounge, bistro, rooftop bar and function spaces.

Nehme Ghanem and Adonis Ghanem. Picture: Brett Lethbridge

The heritage-listed pub’s already had six name changes in its 104-year history and started life as The Terminus – named for its original 1890s building which stood near the end of Brisbane’s tram tracks.

It was renamed The Fox in the late 90s – becoming a much-loved institution if The Courier-Mail’s photo archives are anything to go by.

Adonis Ghanem said the pair was keen to get locals “who have been part of the venue’s colourful story, to help shape its future identity”.

“Whether you sipped your first beer here, celebrated a milestone event, or just have a great name in mind, we want to hear from you.”

The Ghanems are considering keeping the current foxy name (meh), returning to The Terminus (yawn) or are open to brand new ideas (bingo!).

The Fox in South Brisbane.

With this in mind, we at Citybeat sharpened our pencils and jotted down some of our very best ideas.

Now, when we say “our best ideas” we mean our best ideas for AI prompts, because apparently thinking your own thoughts is so 2024.

The cheeky bot (also a good name for a pub) actually came up with some crackers – we’re particularly partial to The Late Ferry, The Bin Chicken Arms (which serves excellent wings), and The Planning Scheme – so called because it’s complex, constantly changing, and best understood after six drinks.

Menu ideas include the Mixed-Use Meat Pie with Greentape Gravy (which takes ages to arrive), washed down with an ice cold NIMBY Negroni or the pricey Infrastructure Charges Sour. Cheers!

Special day

As well as being one of Queensland’s most historic sites, Archerfield Airport is also home to fascinating pioneering heritage stretching back more than 160 years.

That history is set to be commemorated from 10am tomorrow at the annual Remembrance Day.

The airport site, purchased by the Department of Defence for £7,000 in 1929, was once part of the Grenier family’s 640-hectare property and they left behind a unique gift: the beautiful God’s Acre cemetery Thomas and Mary Grenier established in 1859 when their 16-year-old son Volney died after a riding accident.

The cemetery became the primary burial ground for 83 families in the Archerfield, Coopers Plains, Oxley and Acacia Ridge areas until 1931 when Archerfield Aerodrome officially opened. Archerfield was a catalyst for early aviation, an important part of Australia’s air defence and battle support during World War II, and Brisbane’s primary airport until 1949.

The Greniers ran Grenier’s Inn in Russell Street, South Brisbane – in a space now occupied by QPAC.

Great meat and greet

Congratulations are due to Holland Park smallgoods company Borgo Salumi, whose boss Luigi Borgo recently returned from Frankfurt in Germany where his products made a big impression at the International Smallgoods Competition.

Luigi tells us that Australia does not usually compete – due to the difficulty of biosecurity rules with the transfer of smallgoods into Europe – but the Australian Meat Industry Council flew the judges in from Germany so Aussie products could get a slice of the action.

Borgo came out with a swag of trophies and medals, including three platinum trophies – the highest achieved by any Aussie company.

Originally published as Brisbane hoteliers Ghanem Group call on public to rename their revamped heritage hotel The Fox