Iconic Melbourne venue The Esplanade Hotel (AKA The Espy) has revealed plans for its 2018 reopening, as well as details of its revived live music offering.
The St Kilda establishment will reopen in November 2018, after being sold to the Sand Hill Road hospitality group in March 2017.
Following extensive renovations, the venue is set to reopen with three stages, which organisers say will host an “eclectic range of contemporary musical tastes”.
RocKwiz creator Peter Bain-Hogg has also signed up as the Espy’s Entertainment Manager.
“We want The Espy to be a destination for music-lovers from Melbourne, Australia, and all over the world,” he says.
“A trusted venue where they will be able to hear leading local and international artists, and see up-and-coming artists cut their teeth.”
The newly expanded venue will include a basement stage and public bar, an expansive main bar and garden terrance overlooking St Kilda Pier, as well as the iconic Gershwin Room, Cantonese restaurant Mya Tiger and cocktail bar The Ghost Of Alfred Felton (an homage to The Espy’s most notable resident, who lived and died at the hotel).
The Espy’s food offering will be led by Executive Chef Ash Hicks, while drinks will be led by Kevin Peters, Sand Hill Road Group Bars Manager and Group Sommelier Matt Skinner.
The Espy has been largely out of action since it closed its doors indefinitely in November 2015. While an exact date for the venue’s reopening is yet to be set, we know it’s happening some time in November.
Sand Hill Road is also on the hunt for around 300 people to join the Espy team across a variety of different roles.
“Our people are the heart of our business so we are determined to find absolute legends to re-launch this iconic venue and take it to new heights,” says Group People and Culture Manager Bianca Dawson.
For more information, head to the venue’s website.
