The Courthouse North Melbourne

The Courthouse has stood tall on the corner of Queensberry and Errol Streets since 1857. As a long-time resident of North Melbourne, the Art Deco pub has experienced many ups and downs, and its latest incarnation is in the hands of a group of friends.

Tom Sturrock (known by everyone as Rusty) is one of the owners and The Courthouse chef. He explains how the three couples who now own the pub, met in London working together at Cubitt House, and when they all moved to Melbourne they saw an opportunity to revive what was one of Melbourne’s first gastropubs. Ryan Moses brings vast experience he gained from his time in London as well as his fierce passion for hospitality, to become the brains behind the operation as Managing Director alongside Rusty.

“In the mid-2000s it won two chef’s hat and set a standard for gastropubs in the city. Since then it's had several owners and the interior has been in need of some love and attention.”
“The first time I stepped into The Courthouse, I felt an immediate connection. It's not just a pub; it's a hub of community life. We thought that with some love, it could be great once again.”

The team stripped the walls, ripped up the carpet and restored the upstairs rooms. The result is an airy and bright combination of bars and dining rooms, plus two stylish suites for overnight stays.

Tom, as The Courthouse’s chef, focuses on producing wholesome and tasty pub favourites. The menu changes every one or two days depending on what’s in season.

“I’d describe our food as generous and comforting - basic food done really well. We make our own pies and sausages. We grill meat on a custom parilla grill. We make our own pasta, bread and sorbet. I also think our parma is one of the best - our sous chef is Italian. The tiramisu is his recipe too!”

At the moment Tom and his team’s focus is to restore The Courthouse to being a central part of the North Melbourne community. Their approach is encapsulated in the pub’s tagline - cold beers, warm smiles.

“We want our customers to feel like they are part of our extended family. For example, we host Vino and Vinyl nights on Monday nights, when people can bring in their favourite bottle for $10 corkage and play their records on the pub’s record player. The corkage is donated to a local charity.
“We want everyone to feel welcome. To be able to come in, enjoy a nice meal, have a great conversation and experience some genuine hospitality.”

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio