GUILDFORD FAMILY HOTEL

STORY BY LARISSA DUBEKI PHOTOS BY CHRIS TURNER

Alot of love and a lick of paint has brought new life to a community icon.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of the Guildford Family Hotel to its namesake Central Victorian town. Sitting proudly on the main street, the local landmark is rich with goldfields history and the social heart of the community - which meant its unexpected closure sent shockwaves through the community and the residents of the broader region in late 2021.

But thanks to new custodians Tom Allen and Megan Evans, the Guilly, as it’s better known, has a new lease on life – plus the thrill of tap beer for the first time in years.

“We were told by the landlord that the lease was coming up and we took over after the old tenant had left,” says Allen. “It was pretty tired by that stage. We basically tipped the place upside down and everything that fell out stayed out. We rebuilt the bar, put in new equipment, rebuilt the kitchen and remade it as a really beautiful country pub.”

The very picture of the classic corner hotel with its shady veranda, character-filled front bar and grassy beer garden where dogs sit with their owners, the Guildford Family Hotel has reasserted itself as the centre of the community. Friday nights see the meat raffle raise money for different charities while a calendar of events includes the annual yabby races on Melbourne Cup Day.

“It was a tradition that had been going on for years and we were really happy to keep it going… it’s a real hoot,” says Allen.

Like the name attests, the business is a family affair. Allen can be mainly found behind the bar after leaving his former profession in audio production and sales. Evans, whose life has been spent in hospitality, including 10 years at Daylesford’s Farmers Arms Hotel, manages front of house.

And in the revamped kitchen, head chef Lee Littlepage is responsible for a smart menu of pub classics that show how far the genre has come from its meat and three veg days, whether that’s the starters of pea, mint and haloumi fritters or battered scallops on cauliflower puree with crisp bacon. Mains tick all the boxes, from chicken parma and Angus porterhouse to beer battered fish and chips, while also heading into the more modern territory of barramundi niçoise salad, chilli and garlic prawn spaghetti (“That’s my pick,” says Allen) and Thai-style beef salad. Sunday afternoons in the dining room with its exposed red brick walls also honour the tradition of the roast with all the trimmings.

Reprising the long-disused beer taps now means Carlton Draught as well as local heroes Shedshaker, from near Castlemaine, whose kegs are rotated seasonally. Harcourt cider, another local, also gets a look-in. The wine list similarly delves into the region with the acclaimed whites and reds from Passing Clouds featuring prominently.

“We’re aiming for a quality product in food and drink that matches a good pub setting,” says Allen. “It’s all about comfort and community.”

Guildford Hotel guildfordfamilyhotel.com.au

35 Fryers Street, Guildford 03 5473 4021

Open Wednesday to Friday, 3pm - 11pm Saturday noon - 11pm, Sunday noon - 7pm