One of Victoria’s oldest pubs has reopened its doors, marking a new era for the Laurel Hotel in Ascot Vale.
The pub, which first opened in 1853, has been given a refresh by owner Sam Capogreco, formerly Kickon Group’s chief operations officer, who has restored the 170-year-old venue while celebrating its heritage and community roots.
For Capogreco – who began his hospitality career pulling beers at the Laurel as a teenager – the reopening represents more than a business milestone.
“The Laurel means a lot to the local community and there was real concern that it might have been redeveloped and turned into apartments, so being able to bring it back as a proper pub again feels pretty special,” he told Australian Hotelier.
“I’ve been in the industry for about 20 years now and opened and owned some great pubs along the way, but doing this one completely on my own has been different. It really highlighted how supportive and caring people in this industry are. There’s a real sense of ‘we’re all in it together’, and I’ve felt that more than ever with this project.”
The renovation has modernised the pub while retaining its heritage features – original fireplaces remain in use and retro tiles have preserved in the bathrooms, while a cellar dating back to the mid-1800s has been discovered beneath tiling. The refreshed interior features exposed brick, timber detailing, and brighter, open spaces, complemented by relics found during the renovation such as an old Foster’s sign.
The sports bar has been extended and now includes a new bar built from recycled timber for the original structure. Upstairs, a new events space and dedicated bar have been added to accommodate functions.
Caopgreco describes the woodfired pizza oven as a focal point of the dining room, which features booth seating and lounge areas. In addition to traditional woodfired pizzas, the food menu focuses on pub classics and plates for sharing, including lighter dishes like marinated white anchovies and stracciatella, alongside pastas, burgers and steaks.
“The Laurel already had so much character, being the third oldest pub in Melbourne. We didn’t want to take that away. It’s always been The Laurel, and people in the area know it as part of the neighbourhood. We just wanted to bring that back – a pub that feels like home, a bit like going to your grandmas for lunch. Just a really welcoming feeling and full of stories from the locals,” Capogreco continued.
“We’ve brought the space to life with warm, earthy green tones and with natural timber and exposed brick throughout, it feels really relaxed and comfortable. The space has been opened up with the removal of a wall in the public bar, we’ve repositioned both bars and the whole venue now feels more spacious and connected.
“Like most builds, there were a few setbacks, the usual legal delays and paperwork. But our landlord has been fantastic and really helped us work through the tough bits, which made a big difference in keeping things moving,” he concluded.