Introducing The Wild Geese Hotel

Here’s to the threads that bind us. Bold visions, and big spirits. An enduring past, for a promising future. Here’s to great talk, and familiar song. To warm embrace, and grand gesture. To new and old, fast to belong. Here’s to repartee, well observed. To irony, humility and the absurd. Here’s to full bellies and open minds. To big smiles and glowing eyes. To welcome all, young and old. Here’s to stories well told.‍

It's been almost six years since the Celtic Club closed its doors, and now it's back.

Designed by leading interior firm Mitchell & Eades (Grill Americano, The Tote, Beverly, Hawker Hall, Carlton Wine Room), Level 1 of the building will host the Celtic Club Members Bar: an exclusive space for members only featuring a bar, function room, library, private dining room and outdoor parlour area. Members will have the ability to hold whiskey in their private whiskey lockers, currently available for purchase.

Belfast chef John Paul Dargan will be heading up the kitchen with a menu that will champion Irish ingredients with an extensive range of seafood and grill items. Recipes inspired by Irish cuisine will feature in the Bistro while traditional and comforting pub favourites with a modern interpretation can be enjoyed in the bar areas.

Hosting the most extensive range of Irish Whiskeys and Gins and signature cocktails, the team has also developed a house Gin and Vodka with bespoke house recipes.

The Restaurant will be open for a full Irish Traditional breakfast on Saturday and Sunday each week, while a Sunday roast menu will encourage family dining and interaction with the Club.

With ample parking available and easily accessible by Tram 19 (towards North Coburg) from Flinders Street Station, the venue operators are eager to draw in crowds young and old, across a variety of spaces and interests.

“We are very much looking forward to hosting our members at our new home and with some Irish luck we would like to host our very first St Patrick’s Day weekend at our new venue.” - Pat McGorry, President.  

The Wild Geese is a term that pays homage to Irish immigrants across the world, nodding to the clubs original interest in Irish culture, the Irish contribution to Australia and the wider Celtic family. The club is also aware of its Australian heritage and acknowledges that it stands and operates on the traditional land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

An annual calendar of visiting Irish chefs will catalyse additional culinary activation and engage with new member markets to grow the club. Chefs will be sponsored for a month-long kitchen tenancy to showcase bespoke menus and ingredients.

A line-up of entertainment to celebrate the upcoming Irish Calendar dates will be released in the coming weeks, as well as a schedule of local and international sporting events for viewing.

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History‍

From 21 December 1959 to September 2017, the original Celtic Club's headquarters at 316–320 Queen Street drew in crowds from the Melbourne central business district and afar. Most recently, after more than 12 months reviewing and conducting due diligence on a number of venues, the committee finally sourced a suitable location and building for its new home, just at the top end of Royal Parade in the city, (currently known as the Sarah Sands Hotel).