St Kilda restaurant Stokehouse and Andrew McConnell
Restaurateurs Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann have taken over the iconic St Kilda venue Stokehouse. They plan to refurbish the downstairs space into a new venue called Marea Beach House & Bar while keeping the upstairs restaurant as Stokehouse.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in the Melbourne dining scene as a long-standing family-owned venue changes management.
New menu, new downstairs venue, same knockout sea views. Here’s what star restaurateurs Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann have in store at the new Stokehouse.
Updated October 8, 2026 , first published 1:12pm
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Share A A A Andrew McConnell’s Trader House restaurant group has revealed the first of its changes at St Kilda dining icon Stokehouse .
McConnell and his wife and business partner, Jo McGann, have dived headlong into relaunching the two-storey venue , which they took possession of this week after it was owned by the Van Haandel family for 36 years.
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