Brisbane’s best: iconic Jubilee Hotel rises to the occasion
Brisbane has no shortage of beautifully restored pubs, but the latest waterhole to score a major makeover has set a new standard for the region.
The iconic Jubilee Hotel on St Pauls Terrace in the bustling Fortitude Valley has undergone what can only be described as one of the greatest pub transformations Brisbane has seen.
The iconic heritage pub is once again the go-to watering hole for locals and now boasts its very own microbrewery and the hottest beer garden in town, with a live music stage and stadium-sized screen.
Public response to the major refurbishment has been overwhelmingly positive, with punters flocking to the popular pub after its reopening on 11 November last year – just in time for the festive season.
The 134-year-old ‘Jube, as it’s known among locals, underwent the extensive renovation after venue owner TB Hotels decided to restore the hotel’s distinctive heritage façade while taking its internal design into the future.
“The courtyard extension along with the Two Dogs Brewery has been designed to complement these features. Brisbane has not seen a venue like the Jubilee!” Jubilee Hotel Sales & Events Manager, Karishma Sundarjit said.
“Our goal is to have a place for everyone at The Jubilee. We’ve kept the sports bar and gaming for those afternoon visits, revamped the Journo Private Dining room and added six event spaces. Whether you’re here for a sit-down dinner, an engagement party, a celebration or an afternoon with friends and family – The Jubilee offers it all.”
Well-known Brisbane architects, Blight Rayner, designed the new Jubilee Hotel, achieving a superb balance of heritage and contemporary design while offering pub goers a luxurious, modern experience.
“The revitalised Jubilee Hotel offers two very contrasting experiences – firstly of the meticulously restored historic corner pub and its intimate spaces, and secondly of the open volume of the new beer garden behind,” Blight Rayner Architecture Director, Michael Rayner said.
“Externally the old and new are of identical height, but internally the soaring volume of the beer garden, with its sawtooth skylights and window wall to the street, creates a different world of light and spaciousness.”
The Jubilee’s gorgeous heritage brickwork was painstakingly restored by hospitality specialists Rohrig Constructions, returning the brick to its natural state as it would have looked in the 1880s.
However, the star of the show for the reborn Jubilee Hotel is its beer garden and courtyard, featuring translucent roofing that allows natural light to flood the area and a unique diagrid diamond-shaped layout with elegant façade glazing separating the structures.
“The diagrid window wall is designed to defer to the scale and rhythm of the historic pub while also to the skeletal structure of the adjoining office tower which is integral to the precinct,” Mr Rayner said.
The iconic Jubilee Hotel on St Pauls Terrace in the bustling Fortitude Valley has undergone what can only be described as one of the greatest pub transformations Brisbane has seen.
“Inside, the beer garden actually consists of multiple spaces – a beer hall and microbrewery at ground level, a series of booths and terraces at raised levels and a function terrace overlooking from above.”
The footprint of the venue was also extended, which allowed for a larger beer garden, second kitchen, bistro dining area, additional function spaces, three bars, offices, and a microbrewery. These elements had to be designed to blend seamlessly with the existing heritage components.
“The main challenge was to resolve how to design the new beer garden in a way that is both respectful to the historic hotel building and dynamic as a place for people to love coming to,” Mr Rayner explained.
“We realised that a mere contemporary interpretation of the historic architecture would not do this. The new architecture pays homage to the old in terms of scale and rhythm, but what we like is that you get dramatically different experiences from the old to the new, the new acting like a covered plaza in the city.”
For Rohrig, the construction side of the refurbishment required extensive heritage restoration works to the original pub as well as the construction of the new state-of-the-art beer garden, restaurant, bar and kitchen. This proved to be a complex build and one that required a construction partner with proven hospitality experience.
“Limited site access and a complex structure and fit out set the scene for a challenging delivery, but, together as a project team I think we have delivered an incredible outcome and something very unique for the owners,” Rohrig Construction Manager, Matthew Tucker said.
It isn’t just the Two Dogs Brewing microbrewery that has kept patrons coming back since the Jubilee reopened its doors. The hotel offers an exciting new menu and no less than 50 beer taps – not to mention that stadium-sized TV screen.
Pub classics like parmies, fish and chips, steaks and pizzas are all on the menu, as well as gourmet shared snacks like grilled saganaki, charcuterie and peking duck spring rolls.
“The Jubilee has stepped up to another level, but we still offer the pub classics, and we do them well,” Jubilee Hotel General Manager, Chris McNeil said.
“Our pizza oven was imported from Italy and is a big part of the offering. In the last month of opening, our pizzas and Kobe’s Crumbed Steak have been our most popular choices in both dining and events.
“With over 50 beer taps in the venue, we have aimed to offer a balance of craft beer and household favourites as we try to have something for everyone and all occasions, not to mention our brewery-fresh beer straight to the taps.
“Aside from the poplar cocktails and summer spritzers, we also have an extensive wine list offering some classic vintages from Penfolds Grange and Henschke ‘Hill of Grace’,” he said.
The revamped Jubilee Hotel has to be seen to be believed, with a design and fit-out that puts it on the map as one of Australia’s premier pubs.
Originally published by QHA Review
Feature Image by Scott Burrows Photography