The Courthouse North Melbourne

The Courthouse North Melbourne is a historic building. Originally built in 1857, the storied old pub lived many lives before the team behind Naughtons Hotel – Ryan Moses, Rusty Sturrock and Ryan and Laura Berry – reopened it 2023.

The front bar has that classic old-school pub feel, perfect for casual drinking and watching AFL, while the backbar is good for bigger groups. There’s also a main dining room and two upstairs private rooms which accommodate 10 or 35 guests. A record player has pride of place in the front bar next to a collection of vintage vinyl gleaned from Ryan Berry’s dad’s extensive collection. Expect tunes from the Beatles, Queen, Pink Floyd and Dolly Parton.

Sturrock heads up the kitchen and prepares pub classics only. He makes his own sausages (made with pork shoulder he has bought and minced), served with braised lentils and caramelised apple; and does his own fish butchery. The Sunday roast might be whole chook or pork shoulder cooked over the custom parilla grill, with steaks also cooked over the open charcoal pit.

Out the front, English-style ales from Holgate Brewhouse and Love Shack Brewing Company are poured from two hand pumps or beer engines, a way of serving beer usually associated with British pubs where ales are dispensed without the use of carbon dioxide. A selection of local brews from Hop Nation is also on offer.