Why you stayWith great beer, even better food and truly impressive views, most callers will want to stick around for a spell. Even more so now there are ambitious plans afoot to sensitively update and increase the pub’s appeal, both as a community hub and as a dining and drinking destination. The last revamp was in the 1980s, and Jess and Ben now plan to slowly remodel and make the most of the unique heritage features – the lovely hardwood bar, light-filled dining room, the various breezy verandah spaces. To date, the biggest shifts have centred on what’s coming out of the kitchen. Chef Cameron Matthews is acknowledged as one of the state’s best, a former executive chef for Spicers Group, who’s led ritzy fine-dining restaurants like The Long Apron in Montville. The owners also come equipped with another handy secret weapon. They own nearby Falls Farm, a 12-hectare regenerative plot just three kilometres away. Falls Farm supplies produce to the state’s best restaurants including Mapleton Public House – check out the produce list that’s pinned near the kitchen. The plan is to use the pub as a way to spread the gospel about regenerative agriculture, local food and thoughtful drinks – encouraging us all to think more about what we consume and how it found its way to us. It’s already working like a charm.
