The heritage rebuild has been met with delays on account of flood harm, however right here’s what to anticipate when it lastly reopens.
Its opening date might have slipped by six months, however the previous Fox Hotel now has a brand new identify. In mid-2026, Ghanem Group will reboot the basic South Brisbane venue as Hotel Terminus, returning it to its unique Nineteen Twenties moniker.
The rebranding comes after the Ghanems put the query to a public vote. The consequence was unveiled in a media launch in a single day, together with a batch of detailed renders of the venue.
“The response to the vote was actually good,” Adonis Ghanem says. “We had been working with council’s heritage division fairly carefully, as nicely, however we wished to clearly gauge the quantity of goodwill to the completely different names. Because folks over 60 will bear in mind it as Hotel Terminus. But anybody, say, of their 50s or youthful will are inclined to comprehend it as The Fox.
“Initially, we had hoped to rename it Hotel Terminus. And nearly all of folks wished that in order that was actually encouraging to see. It’s a giant factor to rename such an iconic constructing.”
It was an in depth run factor, although, Ghanem says, with The Fox coming an in depth second to Hotel Terminus. Hence a call to “virtually cut up the constructing in two”, with the bottom and first flooring leaning in direction of Hotel Terminus, and the higher flooring The Fox.
“With all of the tradies and subcontractors coming by way of the constructing, all of them have a narrative about The Fox,” Ghanem says, laughing. “There’s fairly a little bit of an affinity for it, however all of them appear to consider the rooftop as The Fox.”
That the Ghanems took the query over branding to a public poll illustrates how severely the restaurant group – finest recognized for Byblos, Donna Chang and Blackbird Dining, amongst others – is taking the refurbishment of the four-storey venue, which initially opened as Hotel Terminus in 1927.
That’s partially as a result of Hotel Terminus is one thing of a homecoming for the household.
“I used to be born in West End and lived there till I used to be about 12 years previous,” Ghanem says. “My mother and father are again dwelling there, in that Davies Park space.
“My mother and father’ first cafe, Cafe Violette, was on Boundary [Street]. I used to be in there on daily basis as a baby. And then Chez Laila got here in June 1992 – I used to be 12 years previous and do not forget that. I used to do the dishes within the again as a bit child. From that day till we opened Byblos, actually, we had been there virtually each single day, so we all know South Bank and South Brisbane very nicely. We’re very connected to it.”
Originally scheduled to open earlier than Christmas, Ghanem attributes the Hotel Terminus delays to this being the “most formidable” venture the group has undertaken.
“It’s definitely been difficult,” Ghanem says. “We went in there with a fairly good understanding of what it could take, and clearly we’ve finished some work with heritage buildings earlier than with Donna Chang and Boom Boom Room. That was terribly tough with a few of the restrictions.
“With this, we took a distinct method, getting in there fairly early and appeared to get Council onside.
“But we didn’t actually know the way a lot work was going to be concerned in restoring the constructing. There was a bit of injury from the 2022 flood [which forced The Fox’s closure], and it had simply sat there for about three years, simply gathering mud and mold and a little bit of rot.
“We’re a bit behind the place we wished to be,” Ghanem continues. “But that was all about reinforcing the foundations and restoring the constructing. There’s been numerous flood mitigation work, and we’re happy to say it’s the type of constructing that’s now going to final one other 100 years, simply.”
When Hotel Terminus opens in mid-2026, it is going to characteristic eating and consuming throughout all 4 ranges.
The floor ground will see the restoration of the general public bar together with a brand new entrance off Fish Lane into an 18-metre-high atrium. There will even be a bistro with a “gastropub edge”, a gaming lounge and a bottle store.
The first ground can be principally devoted to occasions, with two operate areas and a non-public eating room.
The high two ranges embody The Vixen Room and the Fox Rooftop.
The Vixen Room is meant for late nights, with cocktails and snacks served alongside to DJs and dwell music. Renders present a venue decked out in wealthy burgundy and toffee tones, with loads of gentle furnishings. There can be seating on the bar and at a collection of low-set tables populated with comfortable armchairs.
The Vixen Room will even present entry to the Fox Rooftop, which is having its facilities rearranged to be able to accommodate a bigger bar and kitchen. The remedy is lighter up right here. Expect rattan furnishings, an artwork deco-inspired tiled bar entrance and loads of greenery.
“The space round Fish Lane and QPAC has modified fairly a bit and we’ve had our eye on one thing in that space for a short while, so when the Fox got here up as a possibility it was one thing we needed to go for,” Ghanem says. “There are so many extra folks loving int that a part of city. South Brisbane has was probably the most densely populated suburb in Brisbane – it’s overtaken Kangaroo Point.
“We’re excited to have the chance to do one thing particular in that a part of city.”
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Matt Shea is Food and Culture Editor at Brisbane Times. He is a former editor and editor-at-large at Broadsheet Brisbane, and has written for Escape, Qantas Magazine, the Guardian, Jetstar Magazine and SilverKris, amongst many others.