The Carringbush Hotel To Reopen As Friendly Societies Hotel Next Month

The Carringbush Hotel on the corner of Langridge and Raphael streets in Abbotsford has been closed for just under two years. But next month, the pub, which first opened in 1889, will reawaken. 

Leo Weston and his parents Nathan and Clare Weston have taken over the leasehold. They plan to return the heritage-listed venue to its former name, Friendly Societies Hotel, which it operated under from 1889 to 1984. The name still appears on the side of the building and is a better representation of the kind of local the family hopes to operate, Leo says. That is, a pub that feels like a community space. 

This kind of hospitality comes naturally to the Westons, who have been in the industry for years. Leo was a restaurant kid who grew up around his parents’ small businesses, which included Silver Boy Bakery in Cremorne, and cafe Iris and the Secret Squirrel and bar Hubcap, both in Richmond. His father Nathan joined the Cherry Tree Hotel as head chef and became general manager in 2019. “He took over the place completely, and I’ve pretty much been with him every step of the journey,” Leo says. The duo have since left and the Cherry Tree Hotel will reopen under new operators this winter.

“We were in talks about doing a business,” says Leo, who always knew he’d run a venue with his parents one day. “This came up, it was like we just hit the nail right on the head.”

The father and son will run the floor, while the kitchen will be led by former Retreat Hotel head chef Chris O’Dwyer. There’ll be classic pub food with the occasional special from Nathan such as a mixed grill sizzle plate, marking a distinct new era for the formerly meat-free pub. “It’ll be homely, cosy – but also just give that bit of extra service.” Expect fresh bread on arrival and a focus on hospitality to make it a “bit nicer than just your average, like kind of dive bar-y sort of pub”.

The slightly elevated vibe also translates to the space. The pub got a facelift in 2019, so it was pretty much a turnkey situation for the Westons, though Clare has been overseeing the decor, upholstering furniture and lining the walls with eclectic posters that add to the community feel. 

Friendly Societies Hotel is expected to open at 226 Langridge Street, Abbotsford in June.

@friendlysocietieshotel