Loved pub back on tap

THE beer is finally flowing again at a beloved North Hobart pub now reopened with a fresh new look after an extended closure.

The Crescent Hotel opened on Friday night for the first time since 2016, with the new owners proud to welcome patrons to the landmark venue at the top of Burnett Street.

Refurbishment of the downstairs bar, a new kitchen fit-out and a new upstairs dining room and second bar are features of the spruce-up.

Business co-owner Mendel Zotz-Wilson, who is running the pub with Glen Colman and Shane and Tash Gill, said the rebirth was a proud moment.

Work has been in progress since November, when the property was bought by former State Cinema owner John Kelly for $2.35m.

“We’ve been here every day on and off after work in the evenings,” Mr Zotz-Wilson said. “It’s been a labour of love for sure and it’s nice to see all that come to a head now. Everyone absolutely loved it and there has been a lot of hype about it.

“It’s a really nice atmosphere, particularly on a cold winter’s day to be in a nice warm pub.”

Mr Zotz-Wilson said it was initially hoped the pub could open in April, but coronavirus restrictions meant those plans were delayed.

“In all honesty it’s been a blessing because it’s given us a lot more time to finetune things,’’ he said.

“It’s a beautiful old building and it’s been restored, we hope, to its former glory.”

Mr Kelly last year described his investment in the pub as a “passion project” and said the venue had great cultural and historical importance to North Hobart.

He said the building had been run as a pub for 160 years and was previously known as the Lime Kiln Inn before being renamed to the Crescent in the late 1890s.

The Crescent will be open from midday, seven days a week.