Lutwyche's 140-Year-Old Crown Hotel Has Reopened After a Sleek $2.4 Million Makeover
The Lutwyche Road site now boasts a new beer garden and heritage pavilion, plus a menu that spans chicken parmigiana, prawn rolls and beetroot tartare.
Some venues feel like they've always been there, even if you haven't ever stepped inside. Perched in a prime location on Lutwyche Road in Brisbane's inner north, the Crown Hotel is one such spot. It's been part of Lutwyche since 1881, in fact — and if you need a reason to finally drop in, it's just had a $2.4 million makeover and reopened its doors.
Earlier in 2021, hospitality giant Australian Venue Co announced that it was giving the 140-year-old pub a revamp, and temporarily closing the heritage-listed venue's bistro and bar during those renovations. Only the site's gaming room has been open over the past few months, even though it's getting a spruce up as well. From Wednesday, November 3, however, the entire site is back up and running.
Brisbanites can now check out the Crown's new beer garden and heritage pavilion — which seats 140 people — as well as its revamped main sports bar. Overall, the renovations are designed to keep the pub's heritage character, while completely overhauling the interiors.
So, design-wise, that means a sleek, warm and airy look and feel, especially if you're sat underneath the strung-up lighting in the beer garden or on the deck overlooking the outside space. The Crown's new colour scheme skews neutral with splashes of black, white and colour, too — as seen in the blue backdrop behind its towering outdoor mural.
In the sports bar, there's screens that'll play a range of different sports, brews on tap (obviously) and a counter menu that includes karaage chicken, mushroom burgers, fried haloumi, chicken parmigiana and three steak choices. You'll find most of those dishes on the bistro lineup as well; however, Executive Chef Dylan Kemp and Head Chef Jamie Blake are also serving up everything from prawn rolls and confit duck leg to half a Moreton Bay Bug, Tasmanian salmon, and both beef and beetroot tartare.
For something sweet, the dessert selection includes whipped baked cheesecake with strawberry and salted shortbread, vanilla bean crème brûlée, and a chocolate brownie with hokey pokey gelato and espresso caramel.
And whether you're looking to drop by for a bite or a beverage, the pub is also set to host weekly bistro specials, plus themed trivia nights, drag bingo, jazz and blues, and live comedy.
Crown Hotel's revamp marks Australian Venue Co's first big pub renovation in Brisbane, although the company has recently renovated both Kings Beach Tavern at Caloundra and Wallaby Hotel in Mudgeeraba. If you were lucky enough to score one of AVC's 'secret sipper' positions earlier this year — with the hospo group paying folks to eat in and review its venues — then perhaps Crown Hotel the once over might be on your list when it reopens.
In Brisbane, AVC also owns a lengthy list of places, including Darling & Co, Riverland, Friday's, The Regatta, Waterloo Hotel and The Wickham.
Crown Hotel's bistro and bar reopens at 446 Lutwyche Road, Lutwyche on Wednesday, November 3.
Images: Markus Ravik.
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