Brighton Savoy is located in the Bayside suburb of
Brighton, Victoria
Brighton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Bayside local government area. Brighton recorded a population of 23,252 at the 2021 census.
...
in Australia. It is located opposite Brighton Beach at 150 Esplanade, overlooking
Port Phillip
Port Phillip (Kulin languages, Kulin: ''Narm-Narm'') or Port Phillip Bay is a horsehead-shaped bay#Types, enclosed bay on the central coast of southern Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The bay opens into the Bass Strait via a short, ...
Bay. Brighton Savoy has been in operation as an accommodation complex since 1959 and during that time has hosted a number of high-profile events, such as the second
TV Week
''TV Week'' is a weekly Australian magazine that provides television program listings information and highlights, as well as television-related news.
Content ranges from previews for upcoming storylines of popular television programs, particu ...
Logie Awards
The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards; colloquially known as The Logies) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by the magazine ''TV Week''. The first ceremony was held in 1959 as the ...
presentation ceremony in 1960.
History
Prior to Brighton Savoy's establishment as a hotel, the location for Brighton Savoy was originally built in 1909 as a luxurious private mansion. In the 1930s,
St Leonard's Presbyterian Girl's College used it as accommodation and an official boarding house for girls from the country. By the 1940s, it was known as Manoa and then as the 'Savoy Private Hotel'. The ballroom was often used for functions and guests began booking it for weddings. In 1959, permits for extension were granted, allowing for a motel with function rooms to be constructed.
Brighton Savoy made a name for itself as a function venue, hosting the Second Logie Awards in 1960 during which
Graham Kennedy
Graham Cyril Kennedy AO (15 February 1934 – 25 May 2005) was an Australian entertainer, comedian and variety performer, as well as a personality and star of radio, theatre, television and film. He often performed in the style of vaudevilli ...
won the Logie Award for Most Popular Personality.
Brighton Savoy was bought by the Lee family in 1967, under whose ownership and management it remains today.
Notable guests
Brighton Savoy has hosted a variety of notable guests, including: English glamour model
Sabrina
Sabrina may refer to:
* Sabrina (given name), a feminine given name, including a list of persons and fictional characters with the name
People
* Sabrina (actress), stage name of Norma Ann Sykes (1936–2016), a British glamour model and actres ...
and Australian politician
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee Hawke (9 December 1929 – 16 May 2019) was an Australian politician and union organiser who served as the 23rd prime minister of Australia from 1983 to 1991, holding office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (A ...
.
Brighton Beach Web camera
In 2020, the hotel introduced
free live streaming beach camerathat features Brighton Beach. The camera vision has been well received by both locals and international viewers, who utilise the vision as a quick wind and weather check for Kite surfers or as a tranquil viewing experience.
Bayside Tourism Network
In 2014 the Brighton Savoy's Managing director Michael Lee was appointed to the Bayside Council's Bayside Tourism Network.
Tourism Network members contribute to successful local projects such as the Concourse Car and Bike Show, Shops on Show, Christmas in Bayside and much. The Bayside Tourism Network aims to better tourism in Bayside. As of January 2023 Michael is still a member of the network group.
Music and art
In June 2014, Brighton Savoy's venue was the location for the Music and art
In June 2014, Brighton Savoy's venue was the location for the Melbourne-based performance artist, choreographer and dancer, Daniel Pegler's video "Clone".
In August 2014, Brighton Savoy was the video location for the music video by South African-born Australian actor, YouTuber, singer and songwriter
Troye Sivan
Troye Sivan Mellet ( ; born 5 June 1995) is an Australian singer-songwriter, actor and YouTuber. After gaining popularity as a singer on YouTube and in Australian talent competitions, Sivan signed with EMI Australia in 2013 and released his thi ...
for his song "Happy Little Pill" released by EMI Recorded Music Australia Pty Ltd.
In the media
In January 2014, Brighton Savoy were publicised in the
Bayside Leader newspaper in an article titled 'Brighton Savoy hotel criticised for sending out Valentine's Day mistress group email' in response to Brighton Savoy sending an e-mail offer to their e-mail subscribers stating "Come and join us with your special friend, partner or mistress for a romantic evening of sunsets, roses, wining and dining in the Seaview Restaurant".
The
Bayside Leader reported that one of their readers 'Linda' (last name withheld) said she was "appalled by the tone of the Brighton Savoy email promoting a February 14 feast in its restaurant."
In the article, Michael Lee, Brighton Savoy owner is quoted as saying "Our social media department has been severely rebuked. I apologise sincerely. I can understand why some people would be offended."
On 27 April 2020, hotel owner Michael Lee was featured in an article by the ''
Australian Financial Review
''The Australian Financial Review'' (abbreviated to the ''AFR'') is an Australian business-focused, compact daily newspaper covering the current business and economic affairs of Australia and the world. The newspaper is based in Sydney, New Sou ...
'', where he discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the Australian hotel industry.
As a result of Covid lockdowns the Brighton Savoy was closed in March 2020, you can view th
Covid experience for a hotel in Melbourne Australia
State and Federal Government COVID-19 policies severely restricted the hotel's ability to trade and as a result the hotel was closed for 18 out of 24 months from March 2022 to November 2021. During this period the hotel actively lobbied many different media outlets from Channel 9, Channel 7, Sky news, Herald Sun, Financial Review, 3AW, The Guardian and many more to gain support and a roadmap.
References
External links
*{{Official, http://www.brightonsavoy.com.au/
Hotels in Melbourne
Hotel buildings completed in 1959
1959 establishments in Australia
Buildings and structures in the City of Bayside