Islington hotel goes back to its roots to become 'typical Aussie pub'

The Advertiser

20-06-2025

Newcastle hospitality baron John Elsley loves your quintessential Aussie pub.
A place with music playing, sports on the TV and "somewhere that's just good to sit and sink a few schooners."
That's exactly the vibe he's attempting to create with the revamp and rebranding of the Newcastle Hotel as the Islington Barracks Hotel.
Over the past six weeks, Elsley and his team have been renovating the Maitland Road pub, updating the front bar, dining hall and courtyard.
The Islington Barracks Hotel is scheduled to reopen on July 5 and will operate seven days a week.
"The front bar is designed to be your typical Aussie pub," Mr Elsley said. "We'll have nostalgia, sports on the TVs, all those sorts of things.
"One of the things I hate the most about pub renovations is they strip the pubs down and turn them into taverns or pokie dens."
The name change is also a nod to the venue's 135-year history.
The pub first opened in 1890 as the Criterion Hotel, but it's also been known as the King George Tavern, the Barracks Hotel, the Gateway Hotel and the Newcastle Hotel or the Newy.
The name change in 2018 from the Gateway to the Newy was particularly controversial, as the venue had long been the home of Newcastle's LGBTQIA+ community.
As the Newcastle Hotel, the venue tried to attract a more mainstream young crowd.
"The pub's been through five name changes, so I didn't want to add to that list," Mr Elsley said.
"So I went back and picked one of the old names."
The bistro will feature slow-cooked meats on a rotisserie oven, plus typical pub fare.
Live music will also continue in the venue's 300-capacity band room. It's predominantly been used as an electronic music nightclub in recent years, but Mr Elsley said they planned to bring back live bands four to five times a week.
Mr Elsley said the gentrification of Islington and its changing demographic made it an attractive suburb to invest in.
The venue is a short walk from cafes, restaurants, antique dealers and hipster fashion outlets.
"I bought my first house 100 metres away from the pub in 2009, and there were still prostitutes all over the streets back then," he said.
"Now it's really gentrified, and it's a go-to spot."
The Islington Barracks Hotel is the 10th venue in John Elsley and his brother Phil's growing hospitality portfolio.
They also own the Grand Hotel and Bartholomew's restaurant and bar in Newcastle, the Blink Monk and Good Folk Brewing Co in Hamilton, the Lambton Park Hotel, Club Kotara, The Whistler in Maitland and the Sherwood Hotel in Lismore.
They also lease out Maitland's Family Hotel and the Kurri Kurri Hotel.
Newcastle hospitality baron John Elsley loves your quintessential Aussie pub.
A place with music playing, sports on the TV and "somewhere that's just good to sit and sink a few schooners."
That's exactly the vibe he's attempting to create with the revamp and rebranding of the Newcastle Hotel as the Islington Barracks Hotel.
Over the past six weeks, Elsley and his team have been renovating the Maitland Road pub, updating the front bar, dining hall and courtyard.
The Islington Barracks Hotel is scheduled to reopen on July 5 and will operate seven days a week.
"The front bar is designed to be your typical Aussie pub," Mr Elsley said. "We'll have nostalgia, sports on the TVs, all those sorts of things.
"One of the things I hate the most about pub renovations is they strip the pubs down and turn them into taverns or pokie dens."
The name change is also a nod to the venue's 135-year history.
The pub first opened in 1890 as the Criterion Hotel, but it's also been known as the King George Tavern, the Barracks Hotel, the Gateway Hotel and the Newcastle Hotel or the Newy.
The name change in 2018 from the Gateway to the Newy was particularly controversial, as the venue had long been the home of Newcastle's LGBTQIA+ community.
As the Newcastle Hotel, the venue tried to attract a more mainstream young crowd.
"The pub's been through five name changes, so I didn't want to add to that list," Mr Elsley said.
"So I went back and picked one of the old names."
The bistro will feature slow-cooked meats on a rotisserie oven, plus typical pub fare.
Live music will also continue in the venue's 300-capacity band room. It's predominantly been used as an electronic music nightclub in recent years, but Mr Elsley said they planned to bring back live bands four to five times a week.
Mr Elsley said the gentrification of Islington and its changing demographic made it an attractive suburb to invest in.
The venue is a short walk from cafes, restaurants, antique dealers and hipster fashion outlets.
"I bought my first house 100 metres away from the pub in 2009, and there were still prostitutes all over the streets back then," he said.
"Now it's really gentrified, and it's a go-to spot."
The Islington Barracks Hotel is the 10th venue in John Elsley and his brother Phil's growing hospitality portfolio.
They also own the Grand Hotel and Bartholomew's restaurant and bar in Newcastle, the Blink Monk and Good Folk Brewing Co in Hamilton, the Lambton Park Hotel, Club Kotara, The Whistler in Maitland and the Sherwood Hotel in Lismore.
They also lease out Maitland's Family Hotel and the Kurri Kurri Hotel.
Newcastle hospitality baron John Elsley loves your quintessential Aussie pub.
A place with music playing, sports on the TV and "somewhere that's just good to sit and sink a few schooners."
That's exactly the vibe he's attempting to create with the revamp and rebranding of the Newcastle Hotel as the Islington Barracks Hotel.
Over the past six weeks, Elsley and his team have been renovating the Maitland Road pub, updating the front bar, dining hall and courtyard.
The Islington Barracks Hotel is scheduled to reopen on July 5 and will operate seven days a week.
"The front bar is designed to be your typical Aussie pub," Mr Elsley said. "We'll have nostalgia, sports on the TVs, all those sorts of things.
"One of the things I hate the most about pub renovations is they strip the pubs down and turn them into taverns or pokie dens."
The name change is also a nod to the venue's 135-year history.
The pub first opened in 1890 as the Criterion Hotel, but it's also been known as the King George Tavern, the Barracks Hotel, the Gateway Hotel and the Newcastle Hotel or the Newy.
The name change in 2018 from the Gateway to the Newy was particularly controversial, as the venue had long been the home of Newcastle's LGBTQIA+ community.
As the Newcastle Hotel, the venue tried to attract a more mainstream young crowd.
"The pub's been through five name changes, so I didn't want to add to that list," Mr Elsley said.
"So I went back and picked one of the old names."
The bistro will feature slow-cooked meats on a rotisserie oven, plus typical pub fare.
Live music will also continue in the venue's 300-capacity band room. It's predominantly been used as an electronic music nightclub in recent years, but Mr Elsley said they planned to bring back live bands four to five times a week.
Mr Elsley said the gentrification of Islington and its changing demographic made it an attractive suburb to invest in.
The venue is a short walk from cafes, restaurants, antique dealers and hipster fashion outlets.
"I bought my first house 100 metres away from the pub in 2009, and there were still prostitutes all over the streets back then," he said.
"Now it's really gentrified, and it's a go-to spot."
The Islington Barracks Hotel is the 10th venue in John Elsley and his brother Phil's growing hospitality portfolio.
They also own the Grand Hotel and Bartholomew's restaurant and bar in Newcastle, the Blink Monk and Good Folk Brewing Co in Hamilton, the Lambton Park Hotel, Club Kotara, The Whistler in Maitland and the Sherwood Hotel in Lismore.
They also lease out Maitland's Family Hotel and the Kurri Kurri Hotel.
Newcastle hospitality baron John Elsley loves your quintessential Aussie pub.
A place with music playing, sports on the TV and "somewhere that's just good to sit and sink a few schooners."
That's exactly the vibe he's attempting to create with the revamp and rebranding of the Newcastle Hotel as the Islington Barracks Hotel.
Over the past six weeks, Elsley and his team have been renovating the Maitland Road pub, updating the front bar, dining hall and courtyard.
The Islington Barracks Hotel is scheduled to reopen on July 5 and will operate seven days a week.
"The front bar is designed to be your typical Aussie pub," Mr Elsley said. "We'll have nostalgia, sports on the TVs, all those sorts of things.
"One of the things I hate the most about pub renovations is they strip the pubs down and turn them into taverns or pokie dens."
The name change is also a nod to the venue's 135-year history.
The pub first opened in 1890 as the Criterion Hotel, but it's also been known as the King George Tavern, the Barracks Hotel, the Gateway Hotel and the Newcastle Hotel or the Newy.
The name change in 2018 from the Gateway to the Newy was particularly controversial, as the venue had long been the home of Newcastle's LGBTQIA+ community.
As the Newcastle Hotel, the venue tried to attract a more mainstream young crowd.
"The pub's been through five name changes, so I didn't want to add to that list," Mr Elsley said.
"So I went back and picked one of the old names."
The bistro will feature slow-cooked meats on a rotisserie oven, plus typical pub fare.
Live music will also continue in the venue's 300-capacity band room. It's predominantly been used as an electronic music nightclub in recent years, but Mr Elsley said they planned to bring back live bands four to five times a week.
Mr Elsley said the gentrification of Islington and its changing demographic made it an attractive suburb to invest in.
The venue is a short walk from cafes, restaurants, antique dealers and hipster fashion outlets.
"I bought my first house 100 metres away from the pub in 2009, and there were still prostitutes all over the streets back then," he said.
"Now it's really gentrified, and it's a go-to spot."
The Islington Barracks Hotel is the 10th venue in John Elsley and his brother Phil's growing hospitality portfolio.
They also own the Grand Hotel and Bartholomew's restaurant and bar in Newcastle, the Blink Monk and Good Folk Brewing Co in Hamilton, the Lambton Park Hotel, Club Kotara, The Whistler in Maitland and the Sherwood Hotel in Lismore.
They also lease out Maitland's Family Hotel and the Kurri Kurri Hotel.