Five months ago, the idea of the Tote ever reopening its doors seemed as likely as Bon Scott singing on the next ACKA record. However, through some miraculous turn of events, the iconic venue is set to defy the odds and dust off the taps this month for a grand reopening.

Prior to its untimely closure in January, the venue had been up against every brick wall imaginable.

Financial difficulty plagued the pub in the latter stages of its existence. These monetary woes were confounded by the introduction of draconian new liquor licensing laws, crippling the already struggling watering hole and chucking it in the same high-risk category as the multitude of strip clubs and dive bars on King Street.
To add insult to injury, the venue regularly received all manner of noise complaints from people who wanted the convenience of city-fringe living, but were not willing to accept the dirt, the grime and the volume that comes with said lifestyle.

Days before its demise, Melbourne’s music fraternity assembled en masse for a series of demonstrations against the closure of the Tote and other culturally significant venues around town. But alas, it seemed not even thousands of screaming hair farmers could save the Tote from the wrecking ball.

After a series of raucous, teary farewell shows, the Tote shut its doors, thus ending twenty something years of music history. However, after a five month hiatus, a lightening of government policy, a change of management and some serious lobbying from music aficionados nationwide, the Tote is set to return to normal this June, albeit with a few structural and financial tweaks.

To be honest, its a drawn out and arduous tale, full of legal jargon that will undoubtedly bore you to tears.

To cut a long story short, go to the Tote and drink beer til it hurts.

Cheerio.



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