It is the end of an era for an iconic Brisbane watering hole that will close its doors this weekend after almost 170 years of service.
The Victory Hotel – lovingly known as The Vic – stands on the corner of Edward and Charlotte Streets in the Brisbane CBD. It is the oldest continually operating pub in the city, built in 1855 and originally named the Prince of Wales.
A fire that almost gutted the building in 2008 led to an investigation and a major renovation, while The Vic was made a heritage site in 2009.
The building’s owner Precision Group has yet to detail reasons for the closure but the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group confirmed it has ended its 20-year lease of the building.
“We are proud to have been the custodians of the Victory Hotel for the last two decades and we are sad to be saying goodbye to this iconic venue,” an ALH spokesperson said in a statement.
“We would like to thank everybody that has played some part in the operation of the Vic since 1993.
“A lot has changed in this time, and we know a lot of memories have been made too.”
The announcement, which came at lunchtime on Wednesday, came as a surprise to Brisbanians who reminisced on the “many great times” had over the pub’s 168 years of service.
“Low-key got emotional when I found out my fave spot in Brisbane was closing up,” one Twitter user wrote, adding, “thanks for the memories, Vic!!”
Another user wrote they had “so many memories of my youth spent in that beer garden listening to live music!”.
The Vic is one of only a few pubs in the inner city to have a beer garden – and it was renovated in 1986 and 2000.
Some Vic fans were concerned about where their new watering hole would be, while others paid tribute to the bittersweet end to a pub with a lingering legacy.
“Vale Brisbane’s Victory Hotel. It was never good but, somehow, always good. We’ll always have the smell,” one wrote.
The closure comes as its owners, Precision Group, shift their focus to plans for a laneway bar across the street, the Brisbane Times reports.
It is understood The Vic was difficult to run viably due to a number of factors, including the layout and age of facilities.
AHL’s lease will expire in March, and the last call for drinks will be this Sunday, February 19. It is unknown if or when the popular venue will reopen, or what the future plans for the building are.
Story Credit: news.com.au