The Empire Hotel closes temporarily to give staff time to rest and refresh

Just years after its spectacular transformation, one of Townsville’s historic pubs has locked its doors and said ‘see you soon’. Find out why.

Patrons won’t be able to enjoy a drink in the courtyard of The Empire Hotel until it reopens at some stage in the future. Picture: The Empire Hotel.

Just years after its impressive transformation from an ugly duckling into a swan, South Townsville’s The Empire Hotel has temporarily closed, citing the need for staff to “return refreshed”.

While announcements about the closure have been deleted from social media, a notice was stuck to one of the pub’s windows explaining why the doors were locked.

“After much consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to temporarily close The Empire Hotel,” the hotel’s team said.

“This pause will allow us and our team to ensure we can return refreshed and ready to provide the wonderful experience you’ve come to know and love.

The Empire Hotel in South Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

“We want to thank our incredible staff, loyal customers, and our community for your continued support and understanding during this time.”

They went on to say that it wasn’t a goodbye, just a “see you soon”, with patrons encouraged to keep an eye on their social media channels for updates.

The Empire Hotel offers a range of delicious meals. Picture: The Empire Hotel.

The upper balcony of The Empire Hotel offers a great view towards Palmer St. Picture: The Empire Hotel.

When contacted by this masthead, a spokeswoman for the pub declined to comment on the closure.

Built on the corner of McIlwraith and Plume Streets in 1901, the pub formerly known as Empire Hotel and Republic Hotel had sat vacant for close to 20 years, falling into disrepair before it was purchased by local developer Brodie Jankovic.

The front bar of The Empire Hotel. Picture: The Empire Hotel.

With the assistance of a Townsville City Council grant for Modernising Buildings and Activating Spaces, Mr Jankovic was able to retain the heritage charm, balanced with a modern feel, to reopen The Empire Hotel for a new generation of patrons in September 2022.

The venue’s vision is to create a hub for families to “come together, unwind, and craft cherished memories”, with kids able to play in an expansive play area️ and soccer field, function spaces available for hire, and live music.

A chair swing next to the playground of The Empire Hotel. Picture: The Empire Hotel.

Patrons enjoy a drink in the outdoor area of The Empire Hotel. Picture: The Empire Hotel.

The Empire Hotel's regular patron 'old mate', enjoys a cold beverage at the front bar. Picture: The Empire Hotel.

It is unclear when the pub would reopen or if any other changes were being made to the pub’s offering.

To track The Empire Hotel’s progress, follow it on Facebook or Instagram.

Originally published as The Empire Hotel closes temporarily to give staff time to rest and refresh