Town Hall Hotel in Fitzroy changes hands

These are interesting times for pubs in Fitzroy. The Rochester and Marquis of Lorne have had makeovers recently, and changes are afoot for Johnston Street's Town Hall Hotel with chef Harry Lilai and his wife Michelle selling the business to chef Sean Donovan.

Donovan owned and operated the Station Hotel in Footscray and South Melbourne's Wayside Inn, until he sold them last year. "I'm delighted to be moving into Fitzroy," says Donovan, who plans to make some cosmetic changes to the hotel.

There could also be a name-change in the works, nothing too drastic though - the 'Town Hall Hotel' has to be in the name for legal and heritage reasons.

Donovan's menu will include steaks, something the Station became renowned for during his time there. He's already planning the various ways he'll serve the Welsh Black ox he purchased recently, currently dry ageing.

The Lilais are taking a break after five years at the Town Hall Hotel; the business earned a hat in The Age Good Food Guide last year. "I'm putting my feelers out to see what's out there," says Harry. "We've had a great time, it's just time to do something else."

Settlement takes place in June and the hotel is slated to open under Donovan by the end of that month.