Maude Hunter's Pub will celebrate its 40th year in 2026, continuing to offer a Cheers-style vibe to its happy customers.
General manager Anna Fisher will also toast her own landmark next year – 25 years working at the pub – and says, though she’s seen a lot of changes, the soul of the place remains the same.
“We’re a cosy little no-frills kind of pub. Prices are really reasonable because the owners own the land, so that’s nice. There’s no big rent like downtown spots. And we cater to a lot of the university and college students.
“We have theme nights; music bingo on Mondays, trivia on Tuesdays, wings night on Wednesdays and burgers on Thursdays, which all draw in customers.”
The pub is named after Maude Hunter, who owned a corner store-turned-tea room in the early 1900s. Fisher said there was some controversy about naming the pub after Hunter, who was very anti-alcohol and prohibitionist. But the owners stuck with it.
Fisher manages just shy of 40 staff, including the pub’s beer and wine store staff. Many have been with the pub for long time – including four who've worked at the local pub for about 10 years – with others returning after moving away for a while.
“We’re like a little family here. Everybody gets along so well, everybody’s friends, and it’s just a really kind environment to work in. And that syncs with the fact I hire really nice people," Fisher says.
“I 100 per cent stand behind my staff and will not put up with anybody mistreating them. It’s a nice, safe working environment. I think the girls are comfortable and happy here, and they pass that on to the customers," she adds.
"We have a lot of regulars here. When they come in the door, I show up with a beer.”
Loyal customer Rob Archibald brings his dad, Archie, to Maude Hunter’s every Wednesday for wings night and says Fisher always goes the extra yard.
Archibald said after having a bad experience at a different pub they tried, they came back to Maude’s. "Anna already knew what we were having; she remembered. She also visited my dad after he’d had open heart surgery four or five years ago and made his day. He couldn’t believe it. She’s the best waitress in Victoria, bar none."
Archibald said it's a great place to come, even with all the construction that’s been going on for four years.
Fisher estimates there are a few more years of road construction to weather. “Our days are affected by it for sure, because sometimes they shut the street and you can’t drive through. But the nights are so good because the road opens back up again.”
Three of Maude Hunter's signature dishes are their beef dip – “probably one of our most popular” – the “really yummy” peanut butter bacon burger, and the smoked chicken pretzel bun. “We smoke the chicken here ourselves. I’d say they are the top three signature items. But then some would say our southwest chicken burger is up there, while our clubhouse is on focaccia bread which makes it a little bit different,” Fisher says.
On tap, they have 28 draught beers – a "massive" list Fisher says – the majority of which are from local breweries.
“We try to support our local breweries, as we have so many good ones in Victoria.”
For Fisher, a great bartender is someone who can talk to customers on a wide range of topics, especially sports. Being super friendly and remembering your regulars’ drinks is also key.
Looking ahead, Fisher says she hopes the pub continues to be a place that the kids feel comfortable coming to – and stays affordable. “I hope we’re able to stay affordable, as it’s definitely getting harder. We have a lot of retirement communities that are based around here, also, and they’re on a fixed budget.
“When I first started working here it was smoking busy. Now it’s not as busy. Partly because people drink less, plus the drinking and driving laws. People also don’t have the same disposable income as they used to, and there are more options now.
However, she noted the strong roots of the pub.
“We have a permanency to this place which helped us get through COVID. During COVID we did really well, because people just wanted to support us. Customers really gave back to us and showed us how much they cared.”
