First Look: South Melbourne Pub The George Reopens With Help From an Orrong Hotel Co-Owner

In the 1800s, South Melbourne was home to as many as 98 pubs, though the rise of the temperance movement saw a large number de-licensed. Some of the old-school venues, including the Rising Sun Hotel and the Emerald Hotel, are still pubs. Others have made way for residential buildings, retail spaces and more.

When publican Scott Connolly took over The George in October 2024, he wanted to honour the building’s legacy. So he began a months-long refurb, from which the hotel has just reopened.

“For us, a refit is about emphasising the fact that it’s a pub,” Connolly tells Broadsheet, “Because we’re pub people.”

The publican, who is part of the crew behind the revivals of the Orrong Hotel and Healesville Hotel, has worked with chef Steve Svenson (ex- Moby, ex- Lenny) on the opening menu. Svenson’s menu puts a slight Asian spin on typical pub dishes. Burrata is drizzled with house-made chilli oil, crisp calamari comes with a yuzu aioli dip, and a barramundi main is served in a jungle curry sauce with wok-fried greens, pickled ginger and Asian herbs. But there are also staples like chicken parma (served on the bone) and beer-battered fish’n’chips.

Connolly says there’s a focus on affordability, with mains ranging from $26 for a meatball sub to $42 for a 12-hour roasted lamb shoulder. A pub “should not send you to the bank to get another mortgage”, he says. Happy hour runs five nights a week, offering $5 pots and $10 pints; steak, chips and salad is $27 on Thursday nights, and an all-day Sunday roast with veg is $29.

Drinks are straightforward – there’s an easy line-up of wine and beer, including two house-made specials produced by local brewery Stomping Ground. On the tight cocktail list, there’s The George (a shortbread-infused Rob Roy), alongside Margaritas, Espresso Martinis and three spritzes.

Previously, Connolly says, The George’s public bar felt like an upscale cocktail bar. But his goal was to make it a public bar that feels like a casual living room for the neighbourhood. The black metal shelves are gone and the exposed steel pipes have been painted fire-truck-red, giving the space a more inviting air.

Other playful touches include a tartan-patterned carpet, old footy photos on the walls and retro beach umbrellas in the courtyard.

The George Hotel
139 Cecil Street, South Melbourne
(03) 9686 5655

Hours:
Tue to Thu midday–11pm
Fri & Sat 11am–midnight
Sun 11am–9pm

thegeorge.au
@georgesthmelb