Andrew McConnell Acquires Celebrated St Kilda Institution Stokehouse

If one word sums up celebrated chef and restaurateur Andrew McConnell, it’s “deliberate”. Though he’s amassed seven restaurants and bars in Melbourne and two in Brisbane, the man behind Marion, Cutler and Supernormal has always played the long game.

You get the sense McConnell doesn’t go looking for sites – he waits for the ones he wants to become available. That was certainly the case with Gimlet, inside the historic Cavendish House, which McConnell once called “a rare find”. Ditto for the former Becco site, which is soon to reopen as Cote Basque.

Now comes the monumental news that McConnell and partner Jo McGann will take over an icon among icons: 36-year-old beachfront restaurant The Stokehouse, in St Kilda. 

“We feel incredibly privileged to become the next custodians of Stokehouse,” McConnell wrote in a statement. “It’s played such a pivotal role in shaping the city’s hospitality landscape. Its reputation for exceptional food, warm service and memorable experiences in Melbourne’s best restaurant location has earned it a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors alike. There is nowhere else like Stokehouse.”

Owners and operators Frank, Sharon and their son Hugh van Haandel will hand over the restaurant in October, with the current team of executive chef Jason Staudt, general manager Lee Smith and head sommelier Will Martin to stay on.

McConnell has a pre-existing relationship with the family and both parties share a similar approach to running restaurants. McConnell spent time in the 2000s as head chef at Circa, Frank and his brother John’s legendary fine diner at the Prince of Wales in St Kilda.

“With the current team, the Stokehouse is the best it’s ever been. It’s the quintessential Australian seaside restaurant, and I couldn’t hand it to better people than Andrew and Jo,” Frank said.

“Our intention is not to change what makes Stokehouse special,” McConnell wrote. “We have enormous respect for its history and for the team that has helped shape it. We’re inheriting strong foundations, and we’re committed to investing in its future while preserving the qualities and the people that have made it so well loved.”

traderhouse.com.au

stokehouse.com.au