SHUT DOWN: The iconic Hobart pubs that closed their doors
From rising costs to raging fires, Hobart has lost a number of iconic pubs in the last year - but it isn’t all doom and gloom - with exciting plans on the horizon to bring back our most beloved venues.
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From rising rental costs to raging fires, Hobart has tragically lost a number of iconic pubs just over the last year. Some have closed their doors permanently while others have sold up, with new and bold plans on the way to bring the watering holes back to life. Here are the beloved venues that Hobartians have either farwelled with a raise of a glass or are awaiting to celebrate their much-anticipated reopening.
Hotel Soho
The latest pub to announce its closure is Davey Street’s infamous Hotel Soho. The venue will farewell its long-running trend of $5 parmis and relaxed boozy nights on Saturday October 2. The bar was a popular joint for hungry uni students that went crazy over their massive chicken schnitzels and triple stacked traditional parmi coined the ‘Parmageddon’. With the loss of the iconic venue, a new and first of its kind venture awaits, with the site set to be turned into Australia’s first Nepalese pub. Hobart Tiktok star Kiran Thapa is behind the new project that will serve up Nepalese food, frothies and festivals, due to open sometime around mid-October.
Telegraph Hotel
The iconic Hobart pub, affectionally known as The Tele, served up its last round of cold ones in April. The popular haunt loved far and wide was established in 1858 and will now receive a new lease of life by mainland company Australian Venue Co (AVC). AVC took over operations in July and is looking to reopen the venue before the end of the year after renovations of the heritage building are complete.
“We’re passionate about bringing beautiful old pubs back to life and continuing their legacy in the local community. We’ve got a great track record for investing significantly in our pubs, updating them for the modern customer while preserving their heritage.” said AVC CEO Paul Waterson.
“The pub will undergo some renovations to refresh the venue before we open doors later this year.”
Hobart Workers Club
After more than 150 years the Hobart Workers Club is set to move from its Liverpool St location with the building the club is currently housed in set to hit the market. The Workers Club president has ensured members that it won’t be closing, it will just be moving to a different site.
“The current building is not fit for purpose, it’s a little small and doesn’t suit all our meeting requirements.” said president Michael Grubb.
“In the ideal world, if we were a very wealthy organisation we’d redevelop the existing site, but we’re not in that position.”
The club is yet to lock in a new location.
The Brunswick Hotel
One of Hobart’s first ever pubs was tragically reduced to ashes in July after a blaze was sparked in the venue early one morning. Surrounding businesses and pedestrian access to Liverpool St was closed for a week while work is still underway on restoring what is left of the iconic Brunswick Hotel.
The future for the venue is uncertain with no update on whether or when it is expected to reopen.
Flamingos Dance Bar
Hobart’s favourite gay bar Flamingos closed in October 2020 after the building was sold to Celeste Bates and Roderick West. The pair told the Mercury they are planning to reopen the LGBTQIA+ hub as a new all inclusive nightclub with construction underway.
Due to uncertainies surrounding the pandemic and recent announcements made by the Premier over the state of Tasmania’s borders, West told the Mercury the club won’t be opening until the state has eased restrictions with the mainland.
Waggon and Horses
Rising costs and changing customer habits forced beloved North Hobart watering hole the Waggon and Horses to shut its doors last December.
The Argyle St pub was a favourite for sports fans who flocked to the venue for major events and served up to 4000 meals a week at its peak.
“We’ve tried everything over the years however due to changes in customer demands I.e ordering more at home than ever before through Uber eats, more competition I.e (food trucks, micro breweries) ageing facilities, unknown future in relation to our lease and rising rates, water and gas we are unable to keep going,” the pub announced in a Facebook post.
The sports bar’s site remains vacant.
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