What ever happened to The Espy Hotel at St Kilda Melbourne

The Esplanade Hotel, affectionately known as The Espy - whatever happened to the Espy ? Well, it’s thankfully still around and continues to showcase Australian talent and occasional international acts.
Join me as I discover the beauty and character of this wonderful venue.
Credit to Roberto Di Donato ‪@robdido‬ for the wonderful editing work as well as the people and websites I sourced for the factual content.
Cheers 💥
‪@Gioia67‬
Support the channel and buy my brother @robdido (editor) a coffee.
buymeacoffee.com/robdido

[@mrc_ato]

The owners destroyed the espy! It’s not the building we loved it’s what went on in the building. The front bar with music and amazing bands every night. I haven’t been back since the renovations and I’m glad. Watching your video made me sad as now it’s just a generic soulless husk of what it was. The council is to blame as well allowing those terrible apartments to be built behind and the dickhesds who brought there and then complained about the noise. Yep, sad.

[@danozism]

I agree completely. I did my first ever public performance in mid 1990 at a 'Spot The Aussie' gig one Saturday afternoon in the front bar, using the Reverend Mick O'Connor's Hammond organ (RIP). The last time I played the Espy would have been around 2010, approx. Those afternoon gigs in the front bar were fantastic. They'd wind up around 7 or 8pm, then we'd head up Fitzroy St to Topolinos Pizza Joint, then on elsewhere for the rest of the night. This was back when many gigs were free entry snd drinks were affordable, of course. I'm happy the Espy is still a pub, and that it honours it's past, but it's not the same, sadly, and neither is the crew/clientele.

[@cherrycarter8442]

i would have been to the Espy hundreds of times, literally. I first wandered in not knowing what happened inside around 1982, I had been shopping at the Sunday beach market. Yes, it had a wonderful bohemian, sleezy, arty sort of feel, I explored back from the front bar, kind of where those pool tables are and got a seat. There was a duet playing, in a category I class as so bad they were good, it seemed to a father daughter act, heavily eastern European influence, Dad on a clunky electric organ never smiled and Daughter heavily made up with fur coat and dress jewelry singing standards with a strong polish accent..brilliant !! I told my friends about the venue and act and we started making Sundays at the espy a fixture, soon more traditional bands took over the front bar, with long residencies, 'spot the aussie', relax with max', 'Phil Para', 'Steve Hoy', 'Ross Hannaford' .. remember it was free and music every night !!!! I was so smashed one night from a long day of 'party activities' the singer from relax with max pointed at me and said 'whatever she's on, I want some'.. ! most embarrassment .!

[@GaZonk100]

yes! I remember! they also played at the Lindentree (where I used to once)

[@TimChuma]

The Espy got sold. 95% of the building was not actually being used and it was very run down. Most of the people who used to be able to walk home from gigs there back in the day could not afford to live in that suburb anymore.

[@Gioia67]

Yes much like Sydney gentrification changed everything

[@collectivesartori]

@@Gioia67totally diff now. Gone are the sticky red carpets, the front bar, the arcade machines, the all you can eat buffet out the back. Fun but basic times in the 80s. All changed now.

[@thebandcoca]

I spent months in St Kilda and loved that place. Seeing Phil Para doing Jimi Hendrix on Saturday afternoons was great.

[@Gioia67]

Great days ✌️

[@kotchstevens2321]

The Espy is a national treasure or at least it should be. Ive seen some great live music there.. long live the Espy..

[@Gioia67]

Agree 💯

[@peterbarrah7016]

Ah, the memories. There was a time in my life where l virtually lived at the Espy. A place where all were welcome.

[@Gioia67]

Sounds like such an amazing venue 💥🎶👌

[@IDontTalkToCops]

Had some of the best nights at the old Espy back in the late 90’s

[@Gioia67]

Awesome 👌

[@misdamagoo213]

Fantastic memories ........... What staggers were had ......... from the Seaview to the Prince to the Espy to the Venue ........... early 80s - early 90s what a time to live it up!

[@Gioia67]

Absolutely 💯 Great days indeed

[@antman2826]

They killed The Espy. Absolutely awful but something so good was doomed to be bastardised eventually. We used to have dinners there, see the bands and in between set we could run across to the beach for a quick dip then rush back in time for the next set. I was keen to see the reopening and was gutted immediately when I was approached by a door greeter. Wtf??? It’s now just a food court in a wanky shopping mall. I’m just glad that I was able to enjoy it while it was booming.

[@Gioia67]

I think so many people are grateful for having experienced these venues at their peak...definitely a different vibe now Cheers

[@travprice3979]

I was lucky enough to play The Gershwin Room three times and the front bar once. The atmosphere and vibe was profound. Front bar at midnight was just insane. So thankful i got to play this iconic venue 🤘👍

[@Gioia67]

Very lucky indeed💯✌️👍

[@stuARTvideoproductions]

I have great memories with my band Dropzone back in the late 90's early 2000's - we played the Gershwin over 10 times as the guys down there always supported local music. I remember the band room out the back of the Espy was covered in wall to wall posters and band stickers, it felt like we were part of history playing there. We'd sit there with our free 6pack rider supplied by the venue and marvel at the band posters that have been on that stage. The sticky carpet, the down to earth people. Nothing like it.

[@danozism]

Melbourne Bitter cans in a plastic crate! That was the rider back in the day.

[@DingoDundee]

That was my old haunt back in the day. Miss the old girl ❤

[@Gioia67]

Always nice to revisit for nostalgia - I felt its energy even when empty - a beautiful building Cheers

[@donnagough5349]

Had some good times there. Sunday afternoons. Fun times in the 80's.

[@petergrundy8081]

Those days are long gone but they where good

[@melixxxx]

I used to live in a share house in Caulfield south on the dole. We used to smuggle a cask of wine into the espy. We would buy one drink at the bar and spend the rest of the night filling up that glass from the cask. We had the best times there.

[@joalltaeuber8065]

We had a saying "you know youve had a good night at the Espy when your shoes start sticking" Circa early 90s.

[@Gioia67]

Fantastic times ✌️✌️✌️

[@kitwalker2968]

Another great documentation of another iconic Melbs music venue in beautiful bayside St Kilda. I played plenty of gigs in the area. Also loving the Horsehead t-shirt Giola great work with the channel.

[@Gioia67]

Glad you enjoying the channel. Thank you 🎶🎶🎶💥💥💥👍👍👍

[@ibuiltthesky]

Great video, appreciate all the work that went into it. Great venue with tons of great memories of gigs gone by.

[@Gioia67]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@felixjones9198]

One of my favourite places in the world, (the Espy) in one of my favourite places in the world. (St Kilda).

[@Gioia67]

So much love for the Espy ✌️✌️✌️

[@delspence3284]

RIP Trish Shoesmith - She was a good friend. She had great taste in music, she gave my band our first break when we came across the pond in the early 2000's. I worked with her for a few years at Lock'N'Load too. Great lady, sadly missed.

[@Gioia67]

She sounded amazing 👏 🤩 😍 💖

[@Sw-nv4hw]

I got to see toto over the road at the palace..wow. that really blew my mind.

[@Gioia67]

Cheers

[@rickoi46]

18 yrs ago the Espy hosted Wasted Festival with Beerzone , Peter and the Test Tube Babies , Slick 46 , Bastard Squad , Marching Orders , No Idea and about 20 other band... Brilliant day/night

[@Gioia67]

Great…I sometimes wish I grew up in Melbourne 😍

[@markeggins890]

@@Gioia67Great video, best thing about it was the sheer number of bands there and plenty were free. If you grew up in Sydney plenty of great venues there, especially the Trade Union Club!

[@user-vv8xs8bz1r]

I lived in East St Kilda and went to the Espy a lot. Zan & Sherine were fantastic. We used to go drink in The Lindentree after it closed.

[@Gioia67]

Cool🎶✌️

[@monogramadikt5971]

was a pretty decent place in stkilda pre gentrification

[@Gioia67]

Yes 👌🎶 so much change everywhere in Oz

[@VK4VO]

Good to see the Gershwin room, it brought back memories from over 20 years ago when a band I was in used to play there!!!!!

[@brentmallett3818]

Cool. I played there over 40 years ago. The only people in the audience were the band that played after us. Glory days!

[@tigerkuma1011]

The bottom bar. Some great times there! Planning that screenplay that was never written....

[@Gioia67]

Great venue Great days 💥👍👌

[@seangiuliani3825]

MAN I WAS FRONT TABLE HESSIES SHED AND CROWDED HOUSE PLAYED. MY DREAM. PEACE

[@danozism]

R.I.P. Hessie. Dearly missed.

[@Gioia67]

amazing, yes RIP Paul H A great venue, a great man

[@NormanFinkelstein9863]

TO the people who loved and supported the Espy for decades the venue is DEAD . It's just a shell without those people, the music and the culture that made it a leaving breathing part of Melbourne. It's became a shell of its former splendour when it when it was "renovated" into a trophy Yuppie venue for well heeled nobodies to sip wine and congratulate themselves in. but everything returns...

[@danozism]

100%

[@Gioia67]

LOL Must say while it looks great, it does feel a little soulless...it sounds like it had a massive following and sadly doesnt seem to be the case anymore Cheers

[@nkelly.9]

Very well put Norman. " a trophy yuppie venue for well heeled nobodies to congratulate themselves in" You have summed it up in a nutshell. It is a dump now.

[@Horatio411]

Played there with Gus and Frank . Great venue. Looove your work

[@Gioia67]

Awesome! Thank you!✌️✌️

[@anthonysinclair154]

Had a few good night's out there. Thanks for the history . Great work 🙏🙌🍻🍻

[@Gioia67]

Glad you enjoyed it☺️☺️

[@ninjaskeleton6140]

I used to go to a lot of gigs at the Espy back in the early 2000s. The Spazzys, Mach Pelican and The Gingers were the bands I used to see play there the most often back then. The Espy show that stands out most in my mind was the gig I saw by the Japanese band 50 Kaitenz, and Zombie Ghost Train’s album launch show in the front bar. Another gig that sticks in my mind for some reason was going to see the Brisbane band Gazoonga Attack play a midweek basement show there (I think on a thursday night) with Sin City (aka The Local Pricks). It was completely dead, there was hardly anyone there but I still have the CD I bought from them that night, and it just sticks in my memory for some reason. I saw a lot of bigger bands play in the Gershwin room over the years too, but they sort of all blend into one blurry memory after a while. But my most loved Melbourne venue was The Arthouse, which closed down quite a few years ago now. The Tote is next closest to my heart.

[@Gioia67]

Thanks for the support. Glad to hear the Tote still kicking 👍👍👍

[@mwooly1]

I Went to the Espy quiet a few times it was always packed. It’s still is now, for different reasons but up the road was a place called “bananas” which had live bands upstairs. I played there a few times when I was about 15 years old as a support band and we had to carry the Soundsystem up Quite a few flights of stairs, but we never complained..

[@Gioia67]

I've heard of Bananas. Will hav e to vlog about it soon 👍👍👍

[@peterbarrah7016]

And when the Espy shut the doors, it was off to the Linden tree😉🤙

[@misdamagoo213]

Lol. Yes was trying to recall name of that place. Thx. The memories of that late-nite / early morn dive were 'mixed' lol.

[@peterbarrah7016]

Good times Magoo🤙

[@Gioia67]

Locals would def know that one Cheers

[@16Mbvillain]

The gentrified killed the vibe :(

[@Gioia67]

yeh i think an element of sleaziness needs to linger to give these venues some character LOL Cheers

[@martyp7401]

Legendary pub! Iirc Don was also a major figure in the POW and later the Greyhound Hotel. St Kilda in the 90's was peak culture before the money came in and destroyed it. Good times❤

[@Gioia67]

Good times indeed👌👌👌

[@joevass5172]

Hi Gioa. Another great video and interview. Visited Melbourne about 10 months ago and my wife and saw Russell Crowe's Garden Party band in the Gershwin Room at the Espy which was my first time there. Great atmosphere with a big crowd. Thanks for the history and great to see that it was saved from the developers bulldozer. If we are destroying places like the Espy we have lost the plot. Coming from Sydney I have really loved and appreciated your Melbourne videos. Keep them coming,

[@Gioia67]

Thank you I really appreciate the feedback . I think Russell’s playing there again this year. I’m annoyed I never saw gigs there in it’s heyday 🤗 what a fab venue regardless of “gentrification” I loved it

[@Bigdeano75]

Great video. Thankyou!

[@Gioia67]

Thank you 😍😍

[@Bigdeano75]

Bought back a lot of great memories from my early twenties. Great times!

[@stevelawrie9115]

Love this pub. Melbourne has some great pubs.

[@Gioia67]

Sure did 💥👍👌

[@Richorob]

This is awesome Gioia… great editing 👍🏻

[@Gioia67]

Thanks Rob 👌🎶💥

[@thescythian321]

The Espy was my hangout during the early 90s. I knew a lot of the resident musos and remember after hours lock-in sessions with Bruce the Licensee, Linda, Russell Smith, Stewie Speed, Phil Para, Ross Hannaford, Steve DiCesare and all the enterage of old mates and story tellers. Many memories of the Band Room that must remain unspoken and the sticky carpet! Met a few femme fatales there too. Hi Jo and Margie! The Espy was unique and was one of those right place, right time phenomena. It couldnt happen now, its a different world. I loved that place! Trumpet Chris.

[@Gioia67]

Cheers🤩 yes its definitely a matter of right time place right people all coalescing and might I say I felt a real vibe there even with noone there on a Sunday morning....lucky Melburnians 🤩🤩🤩

[@thescythian321]

@@Gioia67 on a recent trip to Melb I did something very similar; walked in before opening and reminisced, following familiar footsteps in a very much changed atmosphere. That was fortunate as the vibe would be very gentrified now with new clientele. Enough remained to feel the old Espy vibe for a moment and relive some treasured memories. Thanks for your charming little film and thorough research, you did well.

[@Gioia67]

@thescythian321 thank you 😍

[@AlchemyMelbourne]

Its legendary for sure. Great channel I subscribed 👍👍

[@Gioia67]

Thanks for the sub! 💥🎶👌 glad u enjoying the channel

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

👍🏻 another great video

[@Gioia67]

Thank you , much appreciated Cheers

[@crickeyboy]

Awesome❤

[@Gioia67]

Thank u

[@Christian-qu9ml]

It has lost its charm. Sad. Used to have tons of atmosphere. I spent many a boozy Saturday Arvo at the Espy back in the late 90's. I went back there not long ago. The vibe is gone, imo

[@Gioia67]

Vibe and atmosphere sadly has been removed from many former Aussie live music venues - Love The Corner hotel, glad thats still going strong

[@GodsOnlyGospel]

Nice work, Gioia

[@Gioia67]

Thank you 🎶💥👌

[@Bluemusic66]

It’s just a shopping mall pub now. Was inevitable I guess given the value of the real estate. Unfortunately It couldn’t survive in its old state and business model.

[@Gioia67]

Sad that the people in charge dictate like they do...👍

[@breadfishfishfsifhis]

I've done a number of sus gigs at the espy but i love the place. love a sus gig

[@Gioia67]

Such amazing atmosphere, even when its empty...Great venue . Cheers

[@brucejay1409]

Excellent look back. The Espy was a classic sticky carpet venue by the 1980s. But, surprisingly, there was very little, if any, serious trouble like there seems to be these days at Melbourne's so-called "night clubs'. The vibe was generally cheery and good-willed. The Prince of Wales in Fitzroy Street was more upmarket. They presented quite a few big name English and American retro acts...as in former Top 40 stars. They had an excellent showroom....think it was called the Seaview Ballroom. As I recall, PBS was in the Prince building? I lived in York Street, West St Kilda...(parents were long time St Kilda-ites). That area was an absolute hub of the entertainment business. Bands like the Easybeats , Master's Apprentice, Seekers all had connections to the suburb. There was a very well known recording studio in Acland Street called Tele-Fil? (Television Film?) where people like Normie Rowe recorded. Much of it sprung up originally, due to the Palais De Danse that was a huge ballroom on the Lower Esplanade (owned by Americans...the Phillips brothers) from the 1920s through to the '50s . ...and, yes, you would be surprised who lived in St Kilda if only temporarily ...people like the legendary Hollywood comedian W.C.Fields...who was working at the Tivoli.

[@Gioia67]

Good to hear this feedback and your personal recollections....I wish I had visited this venue in its heyday...it sounded like it had such character. Cheers

[@Sw-nv4hw]

Such a great venue.phill para n the perswaders. Wow i got drum lessons of paul he was jammin out with jordie from the tatts.. !!! Another great pub was the riverside in richmond .. black sorrows thats when i fell in love with the bull sistersu.

[@Gioia67]

Great Australian. Musicians 🎶👌👍

[@kristinburton4953]

💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

[@debrafleur5404]

My local club was Bananas! Which you mentioned here. It was situated atop the St Moritz building which is now sadly destroyed along with another live band venue downstairs forget the name of it Jimmy Barnes comes and sits at our table and starts to flirt with me. I have just had a massive fight with my bf so I’m upset and tell him to f-- off! My sister kicks me under the table and glares at me when he goes because I wasn’t very nice to him my sister says that’s Jimmy Barnes! I said Who the f is Jimmy Barnes lol!! (this is just before they cracked the big time)

[@Gioia67]

🤣🤣🤣 great story

[@debrafleur5404]

@@Gioia67 thanks! 🌸

[@CryptoSteve007]

Interesting. Thank you. Mona Vale Hotel?

[@Gioia67]

Already done …I think a year ago now Check out on my channel 🤩 thank you 🙏

[@CryptoSteve007]

@@Gioia67I believe you did Dee Why Hotel. Not Mona Vale.

[@Gioia67]

@CryptoSteve007 oh actually sorry you’re right I confused it with Manly vale Sorry I’ll definitely get to that one Doing Strawberry hills hotel/Evening Star /Gaelic and musicians club next - but all in one vlog

[@CryptoSteve007]

@@Gioia67 Great. Thanks again. Love the channel.

[@monogramadikt5971]

the beer garden free barbies were fukn grouse in summer too

[@Gioia67]

👍👍👍😀😀😀

[@camwells9726]

St kilda is a very different place these days , Lost its alternative charm for me , just my opinion

[@thegreatstrogannofski3418]

It's a shithole,yuppies & junkies and nothing in between

[@Gioia67]

Charm and cheekiness definitely not there now I agree 👌

[@derhampaul2182]

They need to play heavy metal there

[@Gioia67]

I think some metal bands might have played there over the years, Cheers

[@808bear2]

Was it Fred Savage who used to write the Espy cartoons?

[@maddyg3208]

No, it was Fred Whose-name-would-be-censored-by-KZbin-if-I-wrote-it-here-but-just-means-Black-in-Spanish-or-Portuguese

[@wwn1970]

RIP Trish - she was legit

[@wwn1970]

Also, the stage in the Lounge was the most magic stage in Melbourne to play and watch.

[@peterbarrah7016]

Yes, the old Espy will never be again, but at least it’s still standing. I’m not a fan of the direction life in general is going, but the old girl is still there, and even though l probably won’t spend a dollar there, l’d have to say she’s lookin the goods🤙

[@Gioia67]

Its true that at least it is definitely still alive and not gone down the path of many venues in this country...Cheers

[@davidmackieson4609]

always thought the espy was further back up the other corner near the main street

[@Gioia67]

opposite the beach Cheers

[@Steve-ik5yc]

Just like everything else in this town it had it's balls cut off.

[@Gioia67]

Agree

[@arttyboo5923]

for queensland i think the playroom an the jet club on the goldy were the best venue in my opinion

[@Gioia67]

Playroom is next

[@arttyboo5923]

@@Gioia67 saw chisel thorogood many more its was that packed at the chisel show you had to get to the windows ( lourvers) to breath hahaha

[@Gioia67]

​@@arttyboo5923playroom up now 👍

[@stufromoz8164]

It went down the S bend.

[@Gioia67]

yes like many places sadly Cheers

[@delspence3284]

Also - The Espy is the worst example of destructive gentrification

[@Gioia67]

Kinda. Sometimes the grubbiness of pubs can also be a negative but I get what you're saying ✌️✌️

[@asherpopemusic]

Got any more of the Tony Martin footage? Would love to see it as I was at that show in 2000. Great Horsehead T too

[@Gioia67]

My brother found it Most likely on KZbin

[@thomasschumacher5362]

Stickiest carpet ever

[@GaZonk100]

locals never called it 'The Espy'. . .it was either the 'Nard' or the 'S-bend'. . .only bogans called it 'Espy'

[@Gioia67]

🤣🤣🤣 Australia is sadly full of bogans

[@derhampaul2182]

I wish Metallica played there

[@Gioia67]

Imagine! Cheers

[@jadomi2076]

Fetishist flags (not LGB) on the stairs tells me all I need to know.

[@Gioia67]

I think when I visited it was Pride Week....I'm not sure sexuality has anything to do with the context of my vlog topic 👌✌️😁

[@sadmancaves]

Good video, but it's well and truely gone to the dogs. Go there at night you'll see it's just a lame baysider bar with terrible music, no atmosphere, overpriced drinks and you'll just feel out of place. It's for people who like the teski bros and 30 seconds to mars

[@Gioia67]

Drink prices sadly are ridiculous now in Australia unless u go to boring old bowling clubs - whilst I think it’s changed dramatically I think for a Sunday arvo visit or a particular rock band night it’s still an amazing venue 😜😄

[@harrisfrankou2368]

Ruined by yuppies.

[@derhampaul2182]

It sucks

[@Gioia67]

yeh not the same really Cheers

[@seangiuliani3825]

this is so cool im crying. ta

[@GenetNasty]

Played the Gershwin , saw many in the Public and Bottom bar. Played the Old Greek in Richmond arrived at the Bottom bar then promptly to the Cat House at the Palace to get smashed with Heavy Metal , wander around totally fucked up then to Greasy Joes for a Burger, to plan our next campaign .

[@theobnoxiousweed]

On one hand I'm so glad it was restored let alone preserved, but on the other, it's sad the old grunge vibes have been eliminated in the process. It's the reality of economics.

[@Gioia67]

Agree 💯

[@melixxxx]

I used to live in a share house in Caulfield south on the dole. We used to smuggle a cask of wine into the espy. We would buy one drink at the bar and spend the rest of the night filling up that glass from the cask. We had the best times there.