College Lawn Hotel — Restaurant in Melbourne

Not accessible for people in electric wheelchairs and after 8 years of feedback, they still haven’t done anything.

My dad and I have been coming to this pub for approximately 8 years, since he moved into the aged care facility up the road. He used to be able to walk up here with a walking frame, but a number of years ago his mobility changed and now we can only come in an electric wheelchair. With that change came issues getting into the pub, as there is a small concrete lip that he just can’t get up without a ramp. The solution to this by the managers was for him to enter via a side gate. This meant waiting until someone could unlock it which is not ideal in its own right, but also because staff change ALOT at this pub, so it was always educating new staff about what needed to happen. I have raised this issue with management probably about 30 times over the years, noting that it’s just a small fix required to make the pub more accessible and they just need to fill in that very tiny lip. That hasn’t happened. When they renovated the inside of the pub a number of years ago, I remained hopeful that they would spend the tiny bit of money needed to fix this issue. That didn’t happen. I was fortunate to get a car my dad could get in and out of, and could take him to where I live in Fitzroy for our weekly hang out. EVERY pub around there either has a permanent ramp where there is a small lip, or if there are stairs, they have a ramp you can ask for. I’m not trying to ignite the North/South divide, but it speaks volumes to the way in which this establishment think about accessibility and inclusivity. It almost feels like the lack of action is to deter us from coming to the pub which is a terrible thought. Given they have made no changes and we had alternative options, we stopped coming out of principle.

My dads ability has declined further, and the only venue we can now get to is this one. So, we started coming again at the start of the year and started patiently waiting to be let in a side gate, and started with the feedback again. Last week, we came and they had set up the winter marquee which meant dad could not even get in the side gate. The manager was very apologetic and wanted me to know that he had requested ramps but that the company had not responded to his request. I had to guide him in providing me with a suitable option (a plank of greasy wood) to support dad to get up the lip. Leaving was not an option as he has to eat at a certain time due to medication & he couldn’t go back to the home as he hadn’t ordered lunch there.

We came again this week. No change. The person on duty this time told me that we could get through the side gate, and proceeded to have to move tables and chairs under the marquee for this to happen. He said the feedback had been passed on. Clearly no action taken.

It’s embarrassing for everyone - not least my poor dad who already feels like an imposition due to his health needs and gets very upset by this matter. It makes him feel like a hassle, when all we want to do is come inside to eat a meal. It means the one day a week I get to hang out with him starts with this horrible experience.

I’m not one for public shaming, but given I’ve tried providing feedback the usual way, I’m hoping that perhaps someone will respond to this review and make the tiny change needed to support people with a disability to access this pub. It is publicly noted on Google that it is wheelchair accessible and it isn’t. Only for certain types of chairs. Making sure an establishment is accessible should be a no brainer. It is...

I have been partying at The College Lawn for almost 20 years. It has always be a 5 star location particularly all those legendary Sunday nights from 2005 to 2017.

But I was absolutely horrified on Saturday night when I walked it and discovered that you have removed the iconic - yes, the absolutely iconic - 360 degree bar and built a new bar against the wall.

How could anyone ever think this was going to be a good idea?

The College Lawn is a legendary establishment and one of the greatest things was the 360 degree bar - I can barely think of another pub in Melbourne that has one. How good was it to be at the bar, see a friend across the other side and enjoy a beer.....and I can't imagine how many thousands of couples got together by first catching each other's eye across the bar ;-)

Now, The College Lawn has become "just another pub" as you have removed what made it unique.

The first thing I noticed is that you have placed the new bar against the wall where there was the most fabulous blown up photo (that extended across the entire wall) of The College Lawn from 1911. Now we can not see that which was such a wonderful reminder of the history of this great establishment.

The next thing I noticed is that you have placed all of these tables and chairs where the 360 degree bar used to be. On a number of occasions I tried to walk through the bar but there was no space between the people trying to get a drink and those sitting down (and the line to the bar was barely two people deep!) It was almost impossible to move from one side of the bar to the other and the pub wasn't even that busy!

But the most ridiculous thing we noticed - when we decided to sit down at one of the tables where the 360 degree bar used to be, we discovered the biggest problem.....we looked up and could not see the TVs because there are four pillars in the way!

Previously you did not notice these pillars as they were a part of the 360 degree bar and built into the actual bar structure - and you could position yourself all around the bar to watch the footy from a variety of angles. But now if we want to watch the footy, I can not stand where the 360 degree bar used to be - and all the space where plenty of people used to stand is now occupied by the new bar!

So by moving the bar, you have drastically reduced the amount of people that can watch sport - which is one of the things The College Lawn is known for!!

I would love to know if there was a business plan, corporate study or just a basic survey completed to determine if moving the bar was a good idea because in my humble opinion (and an opinion shared by all of the old College Lawn crew I have been able to speak to) the corporate owners have literally ruined the main bar. How could a group of people (who apparently have years of experience in pub management) agree that this would be a good move?

I also heard on the night from the staff that the cost to move the bar was absolutely ridiculous...so I think we can now declare that we have possibly the worst decision in the history of "pub renovations" in Melbourne.

They say that "the only consistent thing in life is change" but there is a difference between change and ripping the heart out of The College Lawn and sadly, it is now....."just another pub"....where I can't watch sport cause the pillars are in the way!!

I know there is zero chance for you to again spend a ridiculous amount of money to re-build the 360 degree bar....but I suppose at least we have the memories of a golden age at The College Lawn...and what amazing memories they...

Stayed here for 2 nights mid week while the missus stayed at the hospital nearby. Beautifully maintained pub from the outside, the the pub itself down stairs is very flash also. The accommodation upstairs however, is quite a different story. Firstly, this is hostel style accommodation, private rooms, but with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. Very steep stairs up from the external entry/exit, no lift here so no good if you are not able bodied, there is a less steep entry through the beer garden however. I booked the double room as the missus was with me for the 2nd night. Prices here are very cheap, I payed 70 bucks a night online. 70 bucks a night gets you a double room upstairs with no TV, creaky floorboards, no mirror, no cupboard, only 1 chair for a twin share room, no bar fridge, there was a kettle and tea/coffee side table, but no PowerPoint to plug the kettle into, (go figure). Had to plug the kettle in at the bed side table. No courtesy mini milks for the tea/coffee provided, got to buy your own and keep it in the communal fridge in the shared kitchen. There is only one single PowerPoint in the entire room, next to the bed at floor level! You also get two broken heaters, one is an oil radiator, the other looked like a split system style that you would mount on the wall, but was just left on the floor, neither of them worked, and finally a pedestal fan with nowhere to plug it in either. Only good point about the room was the bed was very comfortable. The upstairs hallway carpet was filthy, doesn't look like it has seen a vacuum for a couple of years. No hot water in the kitchen sink, I ran it for 5 minutes and nothing. There was a TV in the kitchen, but again no PowerPoint anywhere to plug it in to, and no remote. The bathroom facilities were the one thing that was very good, very clean and well maintained, showers were proper recess style with glass screens and lockable doors, good sized shower caddy to put your stuff, massive shower head with really good pressure, and lots of good hot water. The security here is also above average they have electronic swipe card access that is activated during check in, and key code access for entry into the hostel. The pin code changes every day too. All in all, an ok stay but really need to work on in-room facilities. More PowerPoints in the rooms for a start and functional equipment. Never stayed in a room without a TV before either. 2 stars...