Just metres away from the vivacious, picturesque waterfront is where you will find Geelong’s seasoned watering hole and music venue, The Max Hotel. Originally built in 1854, its heritage listing and conventional furnishings help this pub achieve its relaxed, genuine and historic atmosphere and character you can’t help but love.
Currently in the midst of receiving a well-deserved transformation under the hands of new owners, Julia Swinkels and Paul Brady, The Max Hotel is definitely one to watch.
Brady, owner of Geelong’s Kazbar Cafe, and Swinkels who has more than 15 years’ experience under her belt, saw an opportunity and embraced it, with the power duo revealing they have big plans for the upcoming summer season.
“We are opting for a gradual change and the plan is to be fully pumping by summer. We just want to give it a little bit of a shake-up – which is what it needs. It needs some love! So we are going to give it a fair crack,” Swinkels says.
“We want to be doing some pop up bars out the back in the beer garden and make a theme day out of it, like summer vibes and Sunday sessions. We want the band out there playing acoustic chill sessions, and hopefully create a bit more atmosphere out the back.”
In favour of creating a unique pub with community spirit in mind, The Max boasts a night for everyone, with trivia night, open mic and comedy nights, alongside the live music scene, which Swinkels says will now have a defined focus on more local talent.
“There are a few venues around in Geelong for people to showcase their talent but we just want to give them extra space to do what they love.”
If you’re a Max regular for the great free gigs, this is right up your alley.
While the atmosphere is getting a shake-up, the menu is also receiving a face-lift with the addition of a Korean Chef to spice things up the Max – we hear he does a mouthwatering ramen. Staying true to their name, the pub will still be serving favourites like the cheesy garlic bread and the chicken parmi from the classic pub menu we all know and love.
If that isn’t enough, The Max will be extending their opening hours to seven days a week, opening from 11am Wednesday to Saturday, and from 1pm Sunday to Tuesday.
The new changes and new ownership has been welcomed openly from locals and regular punters, with Swinkels saying “It’s really nice to come into a place and just be taken on so quickly, their [the locals] support means a lot.”
The Max Hotel has bigger and better things to come, so stay tuned for what looks to be a pumping summer venue!
Written by Talia Rinaldo
The Max Hotel is located at 2 Gheringhap Street, Geelong VIC 3220. Phone 03 5229 5504.