Overview
It's been over a year in the making, but Erskineville's Swanson Hotel is finally getting a new lease on life. The sprawling corner pub is being resurrected by Gurdys duo Clare and Brett Davis, who'll return the pub to its original name, The Kurrajong, when it reopen at the end of July.
The 1930s pub will also return to its former glory as a "locals pub run by locals" — though not without some serious renovations. The interior has been completed gutted, and the team has — in the process — restored a lot of the old heritage features, including the original art deco floor and wall tiles.
"We tried to bring back as much of the heritage aspects as we could while also bringing it up to date," says Brett.
Some of those updates include a brand new bar and kitchen, and the ripping out of the pokies — that space is now home to a separate kids playroom.
Head Chef Daniel Lanza (Opera Bar, North Bondi Fish) is in the kitchen preparing classic pub grub that (like Gurdys) uses all sustainably and locally sourced produce — and will cater to all dietary requirements. Expect osso bucca bruschetta and bowls of lamb kofta, grilled octopus and falafel to make the opening menu.
There will also be a few shared steak cuts from Banksmeadow's Haverick Meats on offer, including a tomahawk on the bone. Plus, chocolate lava cake for dessert.
On the bar side of things, there'll be 12 rotating beer taps and three dedicated wine taps, all pouring Aussie drops. As there are no beer contracts at the pub, the team can really focus on independent craft brewers, including BentSpoke, award-winning Balter, Stone & Wood and Garage Project. Expect a focus on dark beers for these winter months and sours as the weather warms up.
For wine, the taps will start off with small producers from Mudgee, Hunter Valley and Southern Highlands. A small cocktail list will also feature, with batched drinks and seasonal classics on the docket.
The pub's long-time-coming renovation and reopening has not been without its drama, with major push-back from the community on a separate DA that would've seen the top floor of the building turned into apartments. It's still to be seen what will happen on that front, but we're glad to see the pub made it through the process unscathed.
The Kurrajong Hotel will open in late July at 106–108 Swanson Street, Erskineville. Keep an eye on this space for updates.
Image: Google Maps