By James Atkinson
Sydney's Royal Albert Hotel is enjoying a resurgence under new management, driven by monthly tap takeovers by some of the country's most respected craft brewers.
Royal Albert co-owner Mick Bain took control of the Surry Hills pub 18 months ago and since then has built on the success of its attached restaurant, Bamboo Dumpling Bar, with a revamped drinks offering. [continued below]
The Royal Albert's Mick Bain (front) and friends
He told TheShout that a series of tap takeovers from breweries including 4Pines, Mountain Goat, Monteith's and Riverside had "put the pub on the craft beer map in Sydney".
"These nights brought a lot of new customers to the venue that had never been here or didn't know the pub even existed," he said.
Bain said sales initially dropped when he first introduced craft beers, to the dismay of the pub's longtime regulars.
But his customers' average spend rose as a new clientele was ushered in and the venue stopped trying to compete with "super cheap happy hours" other pubs are running with mainstream beers.
L-R: Brad Flowers with Feral Brewing's Brendan Varis
Bain said the Royal Albert recorded its best ever takings last month, and the recent Feral Brewing tap takeover (pictured above) was the biggest yet.
The Royal Albert will host tap takeovers for Murray's Brewing on Thursday July 4, Moo Brew on Thursday July 11 and a dark beer takeover on July 25.
Photos by James Hardingham – The Photography Business
How good does it make you feel when something like this begins to happen!!