The Napier Hotel Changes Owners and Nothing Else

The more things change, the more The Napier Hotel stays the same. The Fitzroy pub has stood on the corner of Moor and Napier streets since 1866 and has seen plenty in its near-160-year history. Now, Baxter Pickard – who founded online wine shop Grapeful and runs Albert Park venue Wally’s – has taken charge after quietly acquiring the corner pub in late 2025.

Many pubs get new owners who come in and make alterations, ranging from a lick of paint to a full renovation and menu revamp. At The Napier, Pickard, originally from Adelaide, isn’t changing a thing.

“When I first moved to Melbourne close to a decade ago, I fell in love with the pub scene here and The Napier in particular,” he says. “The pubs down here are world-class, but I found myself going to The Napier again and again. I loved it from the first time I visited.”

Pickard spent much of 2025 discussing a sale with previous owner Guy Lawson. Eventually they agreed on a price, reportedly $10 million. Pickard’s desire to keep The Napier intact helped him get the sale over the line.

“To be honest, I was bugging the previous owner for a while about the building,” he says. “But I was determined to be the next custodian of the pub, to make sure it stayed the way it’s been for a long time.”

The front bar’s 15 taps still pour independent beers. You’ll find Wolf of the Willows, Hargreaves Hill, Sailors Grave and locally brewed Noble Boy in your pint glass. The wine list is still almost entirely Australian, and The Napier’s signature roo parma remains on the menu, which continues leaning into seasonal, native ingredients.

Taking charge of a pub and changing nothing might not sound like much work, but Pickard says it comes with a different set of challenges. “It’s been nothing like setting up Wally’s; the main challenge was convincing the regulars that I had their best interests at heart. After a few weeks, they realised I loved the pub for the same reasons they did and it’s been smooth sailing since.”

And Pickard’s long-term plan – beyond keeping The Napier’s soul intact – revolves around staff.

“Really I just want to get a bit of a back-of-house structure in place that will allow staff to stick around and carve out a long career here,” he says. “I think it adds to the character of a place when the regulars aren’t just the customers, but the people behind the bar.”

The Napier remains The Napier as you know it. Though Pickard admits eagle-eyed regulars might notice just one small change.

“Literally the only thing I’ve done is hang a cool old beer sign on the wall. I found it upstairs while I was cleaning up,” he says. “I’m not sure how long it was up there, maybe some of the older regulars will recognise it.”

The Napier Hote
l210 Napier Street, Fitzroy

Hours:
Mon to Thu 3pm–11pm
Fri & Sat midday–midnight
Sun midday–11pm

@napierhotel.fitzroy
www.thenapierhotel.com.au