Overview
There's been a pub standing on the corner of Hawthorn's Church Street and Barkers Road (formerly Beehive Road) since the 1800s. It's had a few different names during that time — most recently, Serafina — but it's been called The Beehive throughout most of its life.
Sadly, Serafina is no longer, but Julien Moussi and Tony Pantano from Only Hospitality (Hotel Collingwood, Hobsons Bay Hotel) have now taken over the site and given the pub a major makeover — and have renamed it The Beehive in the process.
From Monday, July 15, locals returning to the 300-seat pub will find it totally revamped. By.Underwood was brought on to restore rather than renovate the building, and has worked hard to keep many of its heritage features. The famed beehive sculpture that crowns the pub remains, as does the old-school ceiling plasterwork and restored flooring.
A warm, bee-inspired yellow and brown colour palette will flow throughout the venue, while playful beehive lights sit above banquette seats. It's a fun nod to the pub's name, but you'll still be hanging out in a pub, not a bee-themed bar.
Chef Chris Rendell has designed The Beehive's new menu, delivering contemporary gastropub fare with a particular focus on woodfired cooking. Flame-kissed proteins will feature alongside classics like chicken schnitzel and cheeseburger, as well as a rotating selection of pastas and share plates.
As another little nod to its name, local honey by Pure Peninsula will be sprinkled throughout the food and drinks offerings, from a honeycomb-starring cheeseboard to honey-based desserts and a hot honey cocktail.
Julien Moussi and Tony Pantano
The front bar will have a 12-strong selection of beers on tap, a range of mostly local wines and plenty of classic and signature cocktails. You'll also find screens streaming sports matches and plenty of sporting memorabilia.
Moussi and Pantano used to frequent The Beehive in their 20s, and the duo is working hard to hold onto the old pub's character while modernising certain elements.
"Our vision for The Beehive is that it'll be a pub for the people and reignite that sense of community. This transformation invites a new wave of Melburnians to discover the iconic venue, and that's something we're really excited about," shares Moussi.
Right now, we are seeing a lot of small independent businesses like Serafina close, while bigger hospitality groups like Only Hospitality are snapping up property all over the place. It's hard to watch, but we are glad it means sites like this remain in use.
Tony Pantano and Julien Moussi with Qutaibah Al-Atafi and Ryan Underwood from By.Underwood
The Beehive will open on Monday, July 15, and can be found at 84 Barkers Road, Hawthorn. For more information on the new opening, head to the pub's website.