ALH Hotels officially reopened the Brook Hotel in Brisbane on Tuesday 23 May, after spending almost $31 million on the large-format suburban hotel’s major overhaul.
The figure represents the largest single investment Endeavour Group’s ALH Hotels has made on a hotel in Queensland to date, and has provided a significant boost to the state’s economy, and is expected to create more than 100 hospitality jobs.
The overhauled venue comprises a new public bar, sports bar, beer garden, bistro with outdoor dining terrace and kids play area, function room, gaming room, and a four-storey hotel with 40 state-of-the-art rooms, which will be open for bookings from the middle of September 2023.
“The Brook will continue to serve the local community, while becoming a modern and vibrant destination venue for all of Brisbane,” stated ALH’s interim managing director Paul Walton.
“We have designed every element of this hotel with the local community in mind, while at the same time ensuring this iconic venue is well positioned to cater to visitors from all around Brisbane and beyond the border.
“This development hasn’t been just about making way for something new. The legacy of the old venue has been preserved with the stunning 60-year-old Moreton Bay Fig Tree that welcomes you as you enter the venue – allowing nature to tell the story of this hotel’s long history.”
The menu at the hotel will focus on a mix of bistro classics like chicken parmigiana and Humpty Doo barramundi, as well as modern share plates like pork belly bao, lemon pepper calamari and various share boards. The public bar includes a 19-tap bank pouring a mix of classic and craft beers, while spirits will focus on premium classics and a curated cocktail list that will best reflect a Queensland summer.
A stop on the Pub Leaders Summit study tour
The Brook Hotel will be one of three pubs visited on the Pub Leaders Summit half-day study tour on Tuesday 25 July. Attendees will be given a tour of the newly redeveloped hotel by ALH Hotels’ senior management. Interim MD Paul Walton will also take part in the Pub Leaders Summit conference the day before, discussing both the current economic landscape, and staffing strategy.
Also on the study tour will be a sneak-peek look at The Belvedere, which is currently undergoing its own massive redevelopment, which includes the addition of a second level, as well as a new café, sports bar and gaming area. Works will still be underway during the study tour, but Lewis Land Group state manager Chris Allison will show the group around some parts of the venue, as well as talk through the rest of the plans for the pub.
The third stop on the study tour will be announced shortly.