Collingwood's Molly Rose brewery has overhauled its brewpub to return to a more relaxed, neighborhood-focused space. Founder Nic Sandery describes the changes as creating a warmer environment that welcomes all visitors. The updates include refreshed menus, flexible bookings, and a celebratory event.
The team at Molly Rose in Collingwood has transformed its brewpub, stripping back elements to better reflect the venue's origins as a casual community hub. This overhaul aims to move away from a restaurant-like feel toward something more approachable and authentic.
Founder Nic Sandery calls the revamped space “Collingwood beer hall chic.” He explained, “At one point we were starting to feel a bit too much like a restaurant. We’ve brought it back to something warmer, more relaxed and more ‘us’. We want Molly Rose to feel like a place anyone can walk into and feel at home, beer drinker or not.”
On drinks, the brewery will maintain a rotating lineup of styles and collaborations, featuring fresh releases, seasonal beers, and limited batches. The cocktail menu highlights in-house distilled small-batch gins and liqueurs, alongside local wines and alcohol-free options. Sandery added, “We’re brewers first, but great hospitality means having something thoughtful in the glass for everyone.”
Head Chef Sam Field has realigned the food offerings to complement the craft beers, focusing on European-style beer food with local influences. Drawing from his experience in UK fine dining and country pubs, Field said, “There’s so much care and hard work that goes into brewing. My goal is to use our menu to highlight that, to create dishes that sit naturally with the beers and make the whole experience feel cohesive and delicious.”
To enhance community ties, Molly Rose now allows bookings for up to 20 people without set menus, packages, or minimum spends, offering flexibility for drinks, snacks, or full meals. Entertainment will include pop-up events, weekly trivia, free darts, and food specials.
The changes launch with the addition of Flash, Pale Ale to the core range and a Backstreet BBQ party on Sunday, 14 March, from 2-6pm. The event features music, good company, $2 pots of Flash, Pale Ale, and a sausage sizzle collaboration with Melbourne's Meatsmith.