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ONE of Melbourne’s most famous watering holes is getting a new name and a new look.
Brick Lane Brewing has acquired the lease for the old Mercat Cross Hotel in the Queen Victoria Market precinct, redeveloping the old pub into an immersive beer experience, including a restaurant, bar, and educational space.
The space is expected to be completely open in March 2023, with some pop-up activity in the meantime.
Brick Lane Founder and CEO Paul Bowker, says: “The redevelopment of the iconic Mercat Cross Hotel site is one of the most important steps in the renewal of the Market Precinct and it’s an incredible honour that Queen Victoria Market has entrusted us with bringing this to life.
“We’re thrilled to be investing in our ongoing relationship with Queen Victoria Market.
“Since inception, Brick Lane has had community and inclusivity at its core and there is no better example of the Market which has focussed on bringing Melburnians together for over 140 years. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all Melburnians, visitors, and the market community.
“This will be the flagship venue for Brick Lane and firmly cement our roots in the hustle and bustle of the Melbourne laneways and community which was the inspiration for the brewery since day one.”
The venue will include a ground-floor bar featuring a range of diverse beer styles, an upstairs restaurant driven by local market produce with an emphasis on sustainability, casual terrace dining, and function areas with live music areas on the upper level.
The food menu will highlight seasonal Victorian produce, while the drinks list will feature Victorian wine and spirit producers as well as Brick Lane’s portfolio of beers including their Sidewinder No Alcohol and Sunsetter Ginger Beer ranges.
“The site provides a unique opportunity to truly showcase to Melbourne and the world the special role that beer can play in creating community and bringing people together,” says Bowker.
“We see this as a real opportunity to bring the brewery and beer more broadly to life by creating an engaging and educational hospitality experience, where everyone is welcome. The opportunity to do this in the Market precinct where our first kegs were poured four years ago, makes it even more special.”
See www.bricklanebrewing.com