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It seems St Kilda is in its comeback era. Over the past couple of months, we’ve heard of reopenings of old gems and new foodie spots, all in an effort to revive the beachy inner city suburb that’s been quietly slipping off the radar for the past few years as northside stole the spotlight. And one of the area’s glamorous dive bars from the 70s (to then become a gritty, alternative nightclub in the 90s and early 2000s) is having a renaissance: The Snakepit.
Sitting under The George Hotel, The Snakepit will come to life as a vinyl-tracked bar and live music venue. There’ll be jazz, blues, soul and DJs. Brought back to life by Ganley Group (The Fifth Province, Angus & Bon, The Carlton Club), it’ll be equal parts opulent and eclectic. The drinks will lean into the Golden Age of cocktails, and a late-night supper club menu will have chefs slicing charcuterie to order.
“We’re so excited to bring The Snakepit back to life and reimagine a space that holds so many stories of Melbourne’s past. This style of late-night cocktail bar and live-music venue isfew and far between in St Kilda, and we think it’s going to be a fantastic addition to the suburb,” chief publican and founder of Ganley Group, Liam Ganley, says.
“St Kilda has always had an unconventional character, and we want to bring back the beautiful disorder and revelry that the original Snakepit was once known and loved for.”
The Snakepit’s interiors are vintage-inspired and warm, with a heavy focus on texture – brought to life by Studio Y and stylist Eleisha Gray. It brings the Ganley Club’s venues to a total of seven.
What was there before The Snakepit?
The George Hotel has a rich history. It originally opened in 1857 as the Terminus Hotel, and after a change in ownership in 1958, the hotel’s dining room was turned into a dancefloor named Crystal Room.
By the 60s, the hotel was showcasing strip shows, and in the 70s, INXS played there before they were famous, and there were also performances by Nick Cave when he was the lead singer for The Boys Next Door, Paul Kelly, and more. As for the dive bar underneath? Its regulars called it the Flying Jug.
In 1976, the Terminus Hotel became the Seaview Hotel to shake up its branding, but it later lost its license in 1981 after becoming a known drug-dealing venue. Restaurateur Donlevy Fitzpatrick reopened the joint in 1991, and the basement of the hotel became the George Public Bar – an indie and alternative club.
So, it’s safe to say this basement – and broader hotel – has some rich history behind it. And we’re excited to see it reopen, modernised as a record bar.
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