Merivale Is Reopening the Heritage-Listed Alexandria Hotel’s Beer Garden Just in Time for Summer

Back in 2016, hospitality giant Merivale saved beloved inner-west pub The Alexandria Hotel – affectionately known as The Alex – from being demolished for an apartment building. Since, the group has spent time working out what to do with the pub, to ensure it retain its history and heritage.

Now, Merivale has announced that it will reopen the pub’s beer garden in the coming months under the moniker Backyard at The Alex. And with the pub’s interior stripped bare, it’ll be less pub and more akin to Boxpark or Pop Brixton in London, with rotating food trucks and communal outdoor seating.

The first food trucks to pull up in the space are Wholly Schnit, serving chicken schnitzels, and yakitori outfit Firepop. A pop-up kitchen will also pump out Merivale pub classics (there are whispers that Dan Hong’s cheeseburger spring rolls will be on the menu) to enjoy alongside tap beer, classic cocktails and wine.

Live music and DJs will be staples at the venue, which will open from Wednesday to Sunday – plus it’s dog-friendly.

Hemmes purchased the beloved pub – which was established in the 1870s – sight unseen after learning about the local community’s campaign to stop it from being replaced with an apartment block. It was a favourite among Sydney Swans fans, and Merivale confirms it’ll continue in that vein, screening the Swans game on a big outdoor screen.

Backyard at The Alex is set to open in the coming months at 35 Henderson Road, Alexandria.