Queen of the West cracks open new beer garden

A space described as Geelong’s biggest beer garden is now open for business.

The Queen of the West put the finishing touches on the $750,000 Geelong Hospitality Group project on Friday afternoon last week.

 

Geelong Hospitality Group general manager, Tom Ward, and City of Greater Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj pulled two of the beer garden’s first pots just before the space opened to its first customers.

The 700sqm space in the Pakington Street venue can host up to 450 people standing or 250 seated patrons.

 

Designed to feel open while protecting patrons from the elements, the enclosed beer garden features 7m ceilings and large windows along the eastern side, drawing in natural light throughout the day.

A mix of native and exotic plantings feature throughout the beer garden, including 4.5m tall ficus trees in the middle of the space and ornate garden bed borders.

The beer garden’s bar has 12 taps pouring local and imported beers, alongside a cocktail list and a curated wine selection.

 

A dining focal point is woodfire pizzas, continuing the venue’s Italian-inspired food offering, with a new oven integrated within the space as well as an Argentinian-style parrilla grill to support a new asado barbecue menu.

Ward said the beer garden was designed with the local community, familiarity and connection at its core.

“We are incredibly excited to be opening the beer garden at the Queen. Our vision was to create something Geelong has not seen before, an expansive indoor-outdoor destination where everyone can come together, rain, hail or shine.

 

“Since taking ownership two years ago, we have been gradually expanding at the back of the pub, and every time we have added new space the customer feedback has been positive.

“We have been blown away by the response and received over 2,000 bookings in the first 48 hours.”

 

He said said pubs were increasingly becoming all-day social destinations.

“Geelong’s pub scene has evolved significantly over the past five years and is enjoying a real resurgence. Pubs are cool again, particularly among younger people aged between 18 and 25 years who are looking for more relaxed places to socialise, rather than heading to late-night venues in town.

 

“We are responding to that shift with day parties, regular DJs, live music and sporting event programming, creating a space that works from afternoon through to late evening.”