The Halifax Hotel Rises Again

At the Halifax Hotel enjoy a cold one around the same horseshoe bar you know and love. Photo credit: Victoria Velton

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After months of rebuilding, repainting and restoring one of Halifax’s most recognisable pubs, the doors of the Halifax Hotel are open once again and locals are pouring back in.

Owners Luke Penning and Joe Mikuletic first took over the historic pub in August 2024, but only months later the February 2025 weather event brought everything to a standstill.

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Now, following a major refurbishment and a long battle with insurance, the pair are finally welcoming patrons back through the doors.

“It feels very, very good,” Luke said. “We’re really enjoying everyone coming back and supporting the local pub.”

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For Luke and Joe, reopening has been emotional after what they describe as a long and difficult road.

“We’re still fighting insurance, and that’s a 15-month ongoing fight,” Luke said.

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Despite the challenges, the owners were determined to preserve the soul of the old pub while giving it a fresh new look.

The redesign stripped the building back to its bones before introducing warm country-inspired colours and carefully selected finishes.

“Original mixed with new, still with that old Queensland charm,” Luke said.

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One feature they were especially determined to save was the hotel’s beloved historic staircase.

“We nearly lost the staircase,” Luke said. “That staircase is one of the reasons we bought the pub. We fell in love with it.”

He said local builder Glenn Sexton was instrumental in saving the 120-year-old feature.

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“He just took a few panels up, had a look at it, and said he could fix it. That was a massive relief because seeing it go was pretty terrifying.”

Joe said the rebuild became a collaborative labour of love between the owners, builders and tradespeople.

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“Glenn Sexton has been amazing,” he said. “Even the trades had a bit of a say. It became a work of love from everyone.”

Alongside the restoration have come plenty of modern additions, including new chandeliers, upgraded air conditioning, a free Crowd DJ jukebox system and an expanded range of drinks.

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One standout addition has been the hotel’s specialty Guinness tap, shaped in the iconic harp.

“The Guinness has actually taken off quite well,” Luke laughed. “We’ve had a lot of people ‘split the G’, as they say.”

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The pub has doubled its tap range from eight to 16, with a broader mix of old favourites and new options for patrons to try. Cocktail offerings and an expanded bottle shop range are also helping draw in new customers.

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“We’ve got a lot of people saying, ‘I’ll give that a go, I’ll try that,’” Luke said.

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Opening night proved the community had been waiting eagerly for the pub’s return.

“The bar was full from about 10 o’clock midday until 11:30 at night,” Joe said. “We had bums in seats from open to close.”

Luke said the steady stream of patrons throughout the day was especially rewarding.

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“It wasn’t just one crazy rush at six o’clock. It was constant all the way through till closing time,” he said.

The pair already have ambitious plans for stages two and three of the redevelopment.

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Future additions will include two free pool tables, dart lanes, a new TAB area, a beer garden and a dedicated pizzeria. A Mediterranean-style pub menu is also in the works, with a full-time chef already secured.

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“We’re wanting a proper Italian pub, Mediterranean pub-style menu,” Luke said. “We’ve got chandeliers and everything on order for the new dining room.”

Cocktail training for staff is also underway, with the owners keen to add classic pub favourites to the menu.

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“You know, the old Manhattans, Whiskey Sours, lemon lime bitters,” Luke said. “Joe loves his lemon lime bitters. Loves making them.”

Joe said visitors are often stunned by the transformation when they walk through the doors.

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“Their jaws just drop,” he said. “It’s still got that old Halifax Hotel feel, but everyone’s amazed because it’s all new.”

At the centre of it all remains the iconic horseshoe bar, something the owners refused to change.

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“I think the biggest reason people love it is because it’s the horseshoe bar,” Luke said.

“We maintained that traditional shape,” Joe added. “It’s Queensland. It’s iconic.”

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The upgrades are already attracting a broader mix of patrons, from locals who had never previously visited the pub to travellers returning from fishing trips through Lucinda.

“We never really used to have a lot of people sitting at the bar,” Joe said. “Now people want to come in, sit down after a hard day and enjoy a cold beer in the air conditioning.”

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He said the renovation had managed to modernise the space without losing its welcoming atmosphere.

“With the glass windows, it still doesn’t feel cramped. It still gives that open feeling,” he said. “It honestly still hasn’t sunk in for us. It feels like a dream.”

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The reopening has also reunited some familiar faces, with former staff members returning alongside new general manager Narelle.

“Two of our old staff have come back,” Luke said. “They were aching to get back just as much as we were.”

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Throughout the rebuild, locals regularly wandered in to check on progress and offer encouragement.

“They’d walk in and say, ‘Good to see you again, let’s have a look,’” Luke said. “Everyone’s been very, very supportive.”

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He said people were now beginning to understand the full scale of what the business had endured.

“Everyone’s seeing the reality of everything that happened now, not just stories and rumours.”

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The owners expect the venue to be fully completed by the end of August, coinciding with their two-year anniversary.

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“We’re planning something like a street party for it,” Luke said excitedly.

Looking ahead, the Halifax Hotel team is eager to bring back classic pub entertainment too, including raffles, meat trays, Jag the Joker and musical bingo nights.

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“It’s going to be good,” Luke said with a grin.

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