Why you goIt was 1857 when the Beehive Hotel first began buzzing on Barkers Road in Hawthorn. In the nearly 170 years since, it’s changed hands many times, being refurbed and renamed in the process, but the pub’s most recent iteration takes it back to its roots. The original name is once again plastered on the side of the building and the new tagline, “A place for the people”, is proving true as energetic east-siders flock to the watering hole in droves, showing some love for their new local. The Beehive’s new operator, Only Hospitality group, has given it a careful and considered reno that keeps the nostalgic vibe alive for a new generation. Weekly specials – from parmas to steaks – keep the front bar humming, but none as much as local’s night on Thursdays. A cork-clad dining room offers a marginally more buttoned-up experience, if that’s what you’re after. And the breezy beer garden is where you want to be on a balmy afternoon.
