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Stokehouse's downstairs to reopen as Marea Beach House and Bar from October 26

Andrew McConnell's Trader House group begins refurbishment of St Kilda dining icon

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time1 min
Sources3 outlets
Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann's Trader House restaurant group has begun transforming the St Kilda dining landmark Stokehouse, closing the downstairs casual restaurant immediately to reopen it as Marea Beach House and Bar on October 26. The more formal upstairs restaurant will retain the Stokehouse name and close for renovations on October 18, reopening on November 3.

The Trader House group took possession of the two-storey venue this week, after it was owned by the Van Haandel family for 36 years. Former executive chef Jason Staudt has departed.

The downstairs space, described as "playful and easy to drop into," will be redesigned with earthy tones, sculptures and hand-painted murals by Mallorca-based artist Magnus Reid. Its menu will take inspiration from France and Spain at a lower price point than the upstairs restaurant. Dishes will include house-made flatbread and dips, raw tuna tostada, fritto misto, and seafood and meat cooked on a wood-grill, such as prawns with smoked butter and Corner Inlet calamari with chorizo.

The upstairs restaurant will close for a spruce-up on October 18 and reopen on November 3. It will keep the Stokehouse name, which has been a fixture on St Kilda beach for decades.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Stokehouse is a long-established dining destination on St Kilda beach, and the change of ownership by a prominent restaurant group signals a new chapter for locals and visitors.
  • The split into a more affordable casual venue downstairs (Marea) and the continued formal upstairs dining broadens the appeal and could reshape the area's hospitality scene.
  • The fast timeline for refurbishment (less than three weeks for each level) shows the group's commitment to a quick relaunch.

Background

Stokehouse has been a St Kilda landmark for more than three decades under the Van Haandel family. Andrew McConnell's Trader House group operates several acclaimed Melbourne restaurants including Gimlet at Cavendish House. The group bought the venue earlier this year and is now implementing its vision for the two-level space overlooking the beach.

Key Perspectives

Trader House Group: Focused on a rapid transformation that preserves the upper restaurant's reputation while introducing a more casual, beach-oriented option downstairs with a French-Spanish inspired menu. Local patrons and regulars: May welcome the refresh of a beloved venue but might also miss the previous downstairs casual restaurant, Stokehouse Pasta and Bar, which operated for several years. St Kilda hospitality competitors: The relaunch of a high-profile venue with a lower-priced option could intensify competition for beachfront dining, especially in the casual segment.

What to Watch

  • Whether the downstairs Marea opens on schedule on October 26 and whether the upstairs reopens as planned on November 3.
  • Customer reception to the new menu and design, particularly the wood-grill focus.
  • Whether the group introduces further changes to the Stokehouse upstairs dining experience.
  • Any news on a replacement executive chef for the upstairs restaurant.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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