After 21 months of closure following the 2022 Victorian floods, Maribyrnong is welcoming the return of local pub Anglers Tavern on 18 July.
During the closure, flood damage was repaired, and the Australian Venue Co (AVC) pub was refreshed to include new spaces for the local community to enjoy.
Venue manager Christian Mendez said that the venue refresh ensures that Anglers Tavern can continue to serve the local Maribyrnong community.
“The floods caused damage to the entire ground floor of the venue affecting the furniture and furnishings throughout. Since then, we’ve invested in the restoration and revitalisation of the entire pub, bringing it back as a hub for the entire community to enjoy for years to come,” he said.
Throughout the repair and renovation process, Mendez said that the local community were very supportive of the venue.
“Anglers has been part of the community for decades and our locals are really important to us so they were kept front of mind throughout the entire process and now that we’re opening, you can almost feel the buzz in the air.
“Everyone is really excited to have their local back and to have a spot to enjoy with family and friends. We’ve actually had people popping past in the lead up to opening to check how progress has been going. It’s been amazing,” he said.
The refreshed bistro area is a comfortable, family friendly space with a colour palette of warm wood and blue tones, reflecting the boating history of the riverside area. Guests can look out onto the Maribyrnong River from the outdoor beer garden, which has been furnished with astro turf, market umbrellas, and picnic tables. For sports fans, the Sports Bar features supersized screens airing major sporting matches.
Children will enjoy the new Kids Quarters, a dedicated space with an outdoor playground, interactive scrabble wall, iPad station, bikes and trikes, giant noughts and crosses, and a kids’ reading room.
Upstairs, level one has had a complete overhaul to create a purpose-built functions space. The flexible events area is fitted with divider doors, creating one large space or two separate rooms. With two separate bars, an AV system, and a kitchen, the space caters to a wide range of events needs.
In addition, Anglers Tavern has revamped its menu, offering a range of share plates, pizzas and pub classics. Signature dishes will still be available, such as the Anglers Seafood Tower, which includes salt and pepper squid, baked green lip mussels, natural oysters, chilled tiger prawns, blue swimmer crab, beer battered fish, chips and salad. At the end of the meal, the dessert menu also features a giant soft-serve wall for guests to choose from.
Anglers Tavern is celebrating its reopening with a Locals Launch Weekend from 2-4 August. Events include a sausage sizzle, live music, kids face painting, and an AFL handball competition with former Carlton legend and dual premiership captain, Stephen “Sticks” Kernahan.
A lineup of ongoing weekly events has also been organised, such as live acoustic music on Sundays, a weekly trivia night on Wednesdays, and regular kids’ activities.
Mendez is confident that the local community will be pleased with the Anglers Tavern’s renovation.
“The new light, bright and modernised feel has something for everyone, and we’re really excited to be able to welcome everyone back to it.”