Hospitality veteran revives the Laurel Hotel

One of Victoria’s oldest pubs, the Laurel Hotel in Ascot Vale, is being given a new lease of life by Kickon Group’s ex-COO Sam Capogreco, who started his hospitality career pulling beers at the venue as a teenager.

Now with 25 years’ industry experience, Capogreco has taken on ownership of the Laurel Hotel and is overseeing a full restoration of the pub, honouring its historical significance.

Explaining how he came to acquire the pub, Capogreco told Australian Hotelier: “My first bar job was at the Laurel 21 years ago, so I’ve always had that soft spot for it. I’ve kept a strong eye on it from about 2015 or so, on how it was tracking.

“Twelve months ago, I was looking at what was out there, at different avenues… the Laurel being one of them. At the time it probably wasn’t the right deal, but then at the start of this year I reached back out and got in touch with the landlord, and we were able to negotiate something which was really fair and achievable for both of us.”

Built in 1853, Capogreco believes the pub to be the oldest in the area and the third oldest in Victoria.

“I really believe [the landlord] wants to see the venue succeed as a pub, not become apartments or be the derelict building I saw. We share the same vision on that… It would just be a shame to see it disintegrating for nothing, because it’s got such a rich cultural history.”

A loving restoration

Renovations are already underway at the Laurel Hotel, where the transformation will retain as much of the pub’s original character as possible, meaning the retro bathroom tiles and 170-year-old original fireplaces are still intact.

The pub’s original cellar has also been unearthed, dating back to the mid-1800s, while old hitching rings are still on the walls – a nod to the racehorses that have been stabled at The Laurel over the years.

“What we’re trying to create is an Australiana pub from yesteryear, but with that modern warmth in there,” Capogreco added.

Changes have been made to the internal layout of the pub by opening up the sports bar to create an open, more expansive space. Meanwhile, the dining room will feature dark timber, exposed bricks and high gable ceilings, offering a distinct space to the public bar. An additional private function room will also be located upstairs with its own bar.

“Where the pokies used to be years ago, there’s a dividing wall through there that was always in place. By ripping the bar out, taking a couple of walls out and letting some natural light in, that public bar has a change of energy. Also pulling the TAB out – I love the TAB as much as the next bloke – but most people do that on their phones and it can create a messy environment, tickets everywhere and such.

“The dining area we’ve also opened up a lot more as well, trying to get more natural light in and some softer tones there.”

The welcoming corner pub

The Laurel Hotel holds great memories for Capogreco of years gone by. As he steers the pub into a new era, with a family of his own, he is committed to creating a family-friendly space and engaging the local community, emphasising the central role pubs play in shaping local social life.

“I’ve always felt strongly that’s the pub’s role in a neighbourhood. I think this area has got some great pubs that really cater for your TAB, boozy lunches and rowdier crowds – all pubs I love – but nothing really focusing on that place where you want to go with your mates to watch football on a Saturday night, but bring your kids in on a Sunday to sit down and have a Sunday roast.

“We’re making sure we tick off the boxes there, and I thought this particular pub in this community was right for that offering. It’s on a big block and the idea is to put a kid’s playground in somewhere, we just want to make sure it’s the right location, and make sure we work with our neighbours to find the right spot for that. I’ve really consulted, particularly with the neighbours I share a boundary with, about anything I do. I want to make sure I’m working with them and they feel they’re a part of this as well.”

Going solo

Locals are already anticipating the reopening of the pub, which is slated for early October, and Capogreco is driven by not just his vision for what the pub can offer the community, but also the learning curve that comes with stepping out on his own.

“The appeal is being able to go ‘alright, I’ve got this idea, let’s roll it out’. I felt that was part of the right timing to be able to do this – to go, ‘what am I passionate about?’, and I’m passionate about being a community-based pub, with great service. So that was the desire, that was why I wanted to do this,” Capogreco stated.

His acquisition of the pub follows his exit from Kickon Group just over a year ago, where he spent four years as chief operating officer.

“I’ve always wanted to do it – the vision I’ve always had for a pub and fulfilling that, and I thought if I don’t do it now, I’m just never going to do it. I got the right opportunity to do it, and a couple of good opportunities coming up, so I thought now was the right time to go and try that.

“The challenge has been taking on things I haven’t done before – working with banks, valuers, and all those kinds of things But I am fortunate enough that I’ve had some great role models and some new role models step into my life that I can bounce those questions off.”