The Australian Youth Hotel has reopened under a new moniker following an extensive refurbishment. Now known as The Glebe Hotel, the heritage listed public bar has completed seven-months of interior and exterior renovation works. Situated on Bay Street, the suburban pub has been a permanent fixture in Glebe since 1862, where it once served labourers from surrounding wharves and iron foundries.
Sydney-based design studio Alexander & Co, (The Imperial Hotel, Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room), were charged with giving the Victorian end-of-terrace a new lease on life whilst maintaining its traditional features. Structurally untouched by the renovations, the bar offers a traditional pub setting, with chesterfield sofas, fireplace and screens for watching live sports.
The Stables Bar & Grill, which includes a mezzanine loft (originally the hotel stables), features a light and airy dining space with exposed brickwork, wooden tables and bar, a jacaranda mural by Sydney artist, Indigo Jo. A centenary fig tree takes centre stage in the adjacent courtyard, while Nude, the hotel’s private function space named after it’s former life as a brothel in the late sixties, is located upstairs.
Head chef Ben Allcock has created a menu focussed on gastro-pub fare. Small plates include seared scallops and Cloudy Bay clams, with mains including handmade gnocchi with roast butternut pumpkin and goats curd; chargrilled spatchcock; lamb rump; twice-cooked lamb belly and slow cooked pork shoulder ragu. A dedicated steak menu introduces premium cuts including wagyu rump, eye fillet, sirloin and scotch fillet. Pub favourites have not been overlooked with chicken schnitzel, steak and Guinness pie, ale battered fish finger burger and a traditional Sunday roast. The bar offers a full range of on trend craft beers, alongside signature cocktails and a creative spritz menu.
“Our aim is to reposition The Glebe Hotel as a key destination in Sydney’s central district,” say brothers Daniel and Zelman Nissen, who head up the family-run venue. “In view of this we decided to rebrand the Australian Youth Hotel as The Glebe Hotel. Whilst locals who frequent the pub on a regular basis are aware of our offerings, those Googling from afar would often confuse the pub for a youth hostel, which is far from our gastro-pub standing. Refurbishment works were undertaken to coincide with the rebrand and we’ve achieved a fantastic result maintaining many of the hotels traditional features whilst reviving other areas with updated style and functionality to best cater for a more discerning clientele.”