The Yarra Valley Grand Hotel is getting a major renovation, with works now underway on the 1888 pub in Yarra Glen. The update will focus on refreshing the venue while holding onto its heritage features, with changes across the dining room, bistro and bar, alongside an extended beer garden and deck. There are also plans for a larger kids’ playground, pointing to a more family-friendly setup alongside the existing pub offering. The changes speak to a familiar balancing act for long-running pubs, updating the experience while keeping the details locals recognise. Originally built as the Burgoyne Hotel before being renamed in 1905, the Yarra Valley Grand Hotel has long been part of the Yarra Glen circuit, serving locals and visitors moving through the region. Joel Cargill, Yarra Valley Grand Venue Manager, says the renovation is aimed at balancing the venue’s history with its next phase. “This is about honouring our past while securing our future and serving our local community,” he says. “For nearly 140 years, this pub has been the heart of our community. We’re modernising the experience while respecting our heritage.” Works began this week, with the pub continuing to trade during the renovation. More details on the updated venue and reopening timeline are expected in the coming months. The Yarra Valley Grand Hotel is located at 19 Bell Street Service Road in Yarra Glen. Source: Sense Communications Find more dining out updates on Crumb Wire.

Macca’s is bringing KPop Demon Hunters to Aussie menus with a limited-time range built around the HUNTR/X and Saja Boys rivalry. Launching nationwide on April 1, the collab with Netflix rolls out a mix of meals, a new McFlurry and collectible photocards, turning the fandom into something you can order at the counter. Australia is among the first markets to receive the drop, with the campaign geared towards fans picking a side through what they order. Pick your side The HUNTR/X Meal – The HUNTR/X Meal centres on a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets box paired with a limited-edition purple Demon Sauce, alongside fries, a drink and two photocards. The sauce nods to Rumi’s half-demon character. The Saja Boys Breakfast Meal – On the other side, the Saja Boys Breakfast Meal brings a Honey Sriracha McMuffin into the mix, with options including Sausage & Egg, Bacon & Egg, Sausage or Mighty McMuffin, plus a hash brown, drink and two photocards. There’s also a new Derpy McFlurry, built on soft serve with brown sugar sauce and chewy tapioca pearls, pulling from the tiger sidekick character. Across both meals, there are 13 photocards to collect, with rarer versions mixed in. Each order comes with a pack of two, keeping the full set just out of easy reach. Amanda Nakad, Marketing Director of Menu and Brand for McDonald’s Australia, says the collaboration brings the Kpop Demon Hunters fandom into the Macca’s menu. “KPop Demon Hunters has become a global obsession, and we’re excited to bring the collaboration to Australia. “Whether you’re trying the HUNTR/X Meal, starting your day with the Saja Boys Breakfast Meal, or finishing things off with the Derpy McFlurry, there’s something in the range for everyone. This collaboration brings two iconic worlds together, giving fans the chance to be part of the action in a way that feels unmistakably Macca’s. “It’s a full-scale fan battle, and Macca’s is the place where you can pick your side.” One-night Sydney takeover Ahead of the national launch, Macca’s is staging a one-night drive-thru takeover in Sydney on March 31. The location is still under wraps, with the experience set up for fans to choose between HUNTR/X or Saja Boys lanes as they move through the drive-thru, with the first 300 customers scoring a free meal tied to their chosen side. The range lands nationwide from April 1 and will be available for a limited time across drive-thru, front counter and the MyMacca’s app. Source: Omnicom Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.

Manly Wharf is marking the Easter long weekend with a four-day program of food, music and family-friendly events. Across Good Friday to Easter Monday, the waterfront precinct will host a mix of dining, live DJs and Easter activities, with a new bottomless lunch at Felons Barrel Room among the weekend’s key additions. Launching on Saturday, April 3, the weekly bottomless will run across two 90-minute sittings at 12 pm and 2 pm, built around a Southeast Asian-style shared menu. The spread includes salt and vinegar prawn crackers, BBQ pork buns, prawn spring rolls, salt and pepper squid, crackling pork belly salad and tom yum fried rice. The drinks package includes prosecco, wines, Felons beer, soft drinks and juice, with the option to add cocktails like an Aperol spritz, Felons margarita and yuzu spritz for an extra $30. It’s priced at $85 per person and will continue weekly beyond the long weekend. Across the precinct, there’s also seafood at Felons Seafood and Hugo’s Manly, or takeaway from Manly Fish & Chips for something more casual along the waterfront. From Good Friday through to Easter Sunday, DJs will play on the jetty from 5 pm. Easter Sunday shifts towards families during the day, with a roaming Easter bunny handing out chocolate eggs, free face painting, reptile shows at Felons Barrel Room and a kids eat free offer running from 11 am to 3 pm. The precinct will trade across the full long weekend from Good Friday through to Easter Monday. On Good Friday, all venues will open from 12 pm to 10 pm, with regular trading hours across Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. The bottomless lunch launches Saturday, April 3, at Felons Barrel Room at Manly Wharf, with bookings available online. Source: The Cru Find more food and drink news on Crumb Wire.

Premium soft drink brand Fever-Tree has launched a Lemon, Lime & Bitters for the Australian market. The release brings the classic pub staple into the brand’s range, combining Sicilian lemons, Mexican limes and ANGOSTURA aromatic bitters in a non-alcoholic format. It’s a category that already holds weight locally. Lemon, Lime & Bitters is widely recognised as Australia’s “national drink” and remains one of the most ordered soft drinks in pubs, though retail shelves have largely been dominated by more mainstream versions. Grown-up soft drink With this release, Fever-Tree is moving beyond mixers and further into the non-alcoholic space, responding to growing demand for alcohol-free options that still deliver on flavour. The product is rolling out nationally through Coles Group, Woolworths Group and Dan Murphy’s, alongside independent and specialty retailers, giving it broad reach across grocery and liquor. Caroline Wood, Head of Marketing at Fever-Tree Australia, says, “Fever-Tree has built its global reputation by premiumising the mixer category, launching the world’s first premium tonic water in 2005 and redefining expectations around quality and ingredient provenance. With the launch of Lemon Lime & Bitters, we are applying the same philosophy to Australia’s most iconic grown-up soft drink. “Lemon, Lime & Bitters was the original sophisticated non-alcoholic drink, long before the category even had a name. As moderation becomes mainstream, we see a huge opportunity to elevate and reclaim it. “Outside of the bar, no one has really excelled at how to deliver that crisp, balanced bitters finish consistently, and that’s exactly what Fever-Tree is built to do,” Wood says. The opportunity is particularly strong among younger consumers, with research showing more than four in ten Lemon, Lime & Bitters drinkers aged 18–34 have the drink at least once a month. While it’s a staple on menus, take-home options remain relatively limited, leaving room for a more premium retail offer. A balance of citrus and bitters The drink itself leans on naturally sourced ingredients, with no artificial flavourings or sweeteners, and sits at 19 calories per 100ml. It’s built around a balance of citrus and bitters, with a finish that aims to mirror what you’d expect from a well-made version at the bar. Since launching in Australia in 2018, Fever-Tree has built out its presence across both venues and retail, supported by global recognition, including 11 consecutive years as a top trending mixer brand in the Drinks International Annual Brands Report. “The introduction of Lemon Lime & Bitters strengthens our position as a premium adult soft drink brand rather than solely a mixer company. It complements our existing tonic, ginger beer, soda and cocktail mixer portfolio, while unlocking incremental growth in the premium non-alcoholic segment,” Wood adds. The addition of Lemon, Lime & Bitters expands the brand’s range beyond tonic, ginger beer, soda and cocktail mixers, positioning it more clearly within the adult soft drink category. Rather than creating something new, the focus here is on refining an existing favourite, bringing a more consistent and ingredient-driven approach to a drink that’s already widely recognised. Fever-Tree Lemon, Lime & Bitters is available now nationwide. Source: In Good Company Find more food retail updates on Crumb Wire.