The Laird Hotel
149 Gipps St, Abbotsford, Yarra, Victoria 3067 Australia
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About
#1 of 1 special hotel in Abbotsford
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Value
Australia's longest running men-only gay hotel, catering to the leather, bear and alternative crowd, open seven nights a week with unique accommodation. Male only exemption VCAT H18/2018
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Wine / champagne
Adults only
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Air conditioning
Kitchenette
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
Charming
Location
78Somewhat walkable
Grade: 78 out of 100
32Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
8Attractionswithin 0.5 km
149 Gipps St, Abbotsford, Yarra, Victoria 3067 Australia
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Rental CarsSee all Abbotsford car hire
36Reviews1Q+A8Room tips
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
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In world that is changing so quickly it’s so reassuringly wonderful to find a place that doesn’t but remains fantastic. The laird has been around for a very long time as the guest comment book will attest. There are entries in there from 40 yrs ago . This place is a great place to stay wether alone or as a couple. Very good transport links for an easy journey from the city. Despite the decor being from the the late 70s early 80s the laird is well cared for and very clean . The showers are so powerful I was afraid my skin would bruise. I firmly believe places like the laird should be protected as an important piece of gay history and culture. Visit and stay at the laird guys !!!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
The Laird Hotel Abbotsford Absalutely excellent 795104573 I just spent four wonderful nights at the laird hotel and the bar. I can't praise the venue and the staff and management enough. Absalutely excellent. I had sooooo much fun, lots of blokes to chat with and the staff and manager were so enormously friendly. A bloody brilliant experience. I really felt looked after and pampered. All it's services were great. I even washed and dried my clothes there. It was no trouble. Plenty of towels, hot water, soap, toilet roll, warm blankets, heating and cooling, tv in my room, usual channels AND great 24 hour bear porn. Truly BRILLIANT. the guest lounge was extremely comfortable, and the kitchen was wonderful. Everything was super clean and super tidy. Everyone regularly asked how I was and if I needed anything. The quiz night was extremely funny, and the leather night was brilliant. Lots of blokes, very friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I slept well too, in the enormous luscious bed with pleasant night light and big windows to let the sun in. A special thanks to the bar staff, the bloke with the big coloured streak in the middle of his hair for being so friendly and chatting and introducing me around. And also special thanks to the handsome manager, for being such a gentleman and chatting to me on quiz night. Many thanks mate and hugs to ya. A great manager and fun to spend time with. IM DEFINITELY COMING BACK as soon as I can. Many thanks, everyone…
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
I travel both for pleasure and work to this beautiful city, The hotel allows me to be close to my night life and a great venue downstairs. The events page on what is on at the PUB is fantastic and up to date as well as the social media page. The hotel part is clean and well maintained. As a person who travels alone I feel comfortable and safe here and the surrounding community You need to be aware this is a hotel that caters to those that identify as male.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: There is not bad room in the hotel, The beds have been updated not long ago
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Brett_Lasham, Owner at The Laird Hotel
Responded 3 Mar 2020
Thanks for the review mate! Cheers, Brett & Mark
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Thursday night is Spit & Polish night; a dress code applies and is published on their website. I phoned to confirm that what I’d be wearing would be acceptable, was told “absolutely!”....and was refused entry on the night. If you’re going to have a dress code, then follow it as published, change it, or get rid of it altogether and tell people that your staff will make arbitrary decisions on who gets in. It appears I didn’t miss much. Another reviewer summed it up as a gay business ripping off the gay community, and I agree. AVOID this place - it deserves to fail.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Brett_Lasham, Owner at The Laird Hotel
Responded 27 Feb 2020
Hi there. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at our event. That said, wishing we would fail is a bit harsh! Is there any chance that what you described on the phone sounded like the right gear but wasn't actually suitable when sighted? Would be good to clarify this. Cheers, Brett
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We decided to spend a night in the city after seeing a show. We rocked up to the place expecting to check in but at 5 pm it wasn’t open, God forbid if we had wanted to check in earlier. We were travelling by train and previously thought we might check in before the matinee show, luckily we didn’t pursue that. At 5:20 the doors opened and we went to check in, only to be greeted by a surly receptionist, Mark, who clearly couldn’t give a s@@t if we were there or not. After an inordinate amount of time (seriously, how hard is it to find a room key?) we get our slip of paper to sign in, having already paid the $160 for the night (a room with an antiquated en-suite). Anyway, we went out for dinner, had a few drinks and got back to our room thinking we might watch some ‘adult tv’ that was on offer. But the picture was so grainy-gees were these guys using VHS?. We got to bed at 2:30 am expecting to have a nice lie in before heading off to the train station. However, we soon learned that the blinds did not work, we couldn’t close them and so at 6:30 we were woken up by the sunlight streaming into the room. So much for a good nites rest!!! With so many other hotels in the CBD available at $114-$160 per night, we were definitely overcharged for what we got. Another example of a gay business ripping off the gay community. As a side note, we can remember when The Laird was packed with men on a weekend but sadly this has all changed and the maximum men on a Saturday night would have been maybe 30.…
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Date of stay: January 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Just don’t!!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
I stayed here for a 5 nights during my trip in Australia. Check-in was easy and friendly. The room (no en-suite bathroom) was quite comfortable. The TV has a channel of gay porn (good bear movies) which was nice to watch. Besides, as a customer if the Laird hotel I was allowed free entry at Club 80 (local cruising club). Excellent idea. Free breakfast facilities (toast and coffee/tea and orange juice. This was great. Laundry place available. The room was so 1970s and that was good memories.
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Date of stay: December 2018Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Brett_Lasham, Owner at The Laird Hotel
Responded 6 Jan 2019
Thanks for the great feedback Marco. Glad you enjoyed your stay. Cheers, Brett
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Great venue for socialising and making new friends. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. The room was neat and tidy and very clean. Place is full of history with the guest book dating back to 1981. Will definitely be back and recommend this place to friends.
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Date of stay: December 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Brett_Lasham, Owner at The Laird Hotel
Responded 6 Jan 2019
Thanks Travis, great to hear you enjoyed your time with us. See you next time! Cheers, Brett
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I stayed here for a few nights while travelling through Australia. I thought it looked interesting and theexperience did not disappoint. The innkeeper and bartenders were amazing. They were very helpful and had a nice warm quality. My room had a bathroom and was very nice. The noise was noticable from downstairs, but this is not a late night bar. It quieted down at a very reasonable hour (not that I cared mind you). The rest of the upstairs was very well appointed. The little kitchen was nice and the lounge was very comfortable. The whole place is tastefully decorated with gay signs and framed posters from venues all over the world. The location is near quite a lot of other gay venues. The rail into the city is right across the street and only a couple stops away. It is easy to use. Again, thank you for everything guys! You helped make Melbourne a fantastic experience.…
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Date of stay: September 2018Trip type: Travelled solo
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Brett_Lasham, Owner at The Laird Hotel
Responded 17 Sept 2018
Hi David, thanks for the great feedback. We're stoked you had such a great time. Cheers, Brett, Mark and the crew.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
If you want to hit the bar, then stay upstairs. The rooms are spacious and those with en suite are very well proportioned. There does tend to be a bit of noise from the DJ below but you’re probably not there to sleep. A minute’s walk from collingwood train station and a short 15 minute walk up to the buzz of Smith street.
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Date of stay: February 2018Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Brett L, Owner at The Laird Hotel
Responded 27 Feb 2018
Hey S0par, glad you enjoyed it! Absolutely correct re: noise from downstairs. Guests can always request one of the quieter rooms at the East end of the venue. Cheers, Brett & Mark
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Having not done much research into the hotel and just booked accommodation near the gay area . I read about the amazing Sunday afternoons at the Laird and decided to book here as the prices are reasonable and reviews are good. Having arrived from Sydney the first impressions were where are the high rises are we in the ghetto...the gentleman who let us in was so friendly and helpful we knew then this was definitely not Sydney. First impressions of the interior were very Tom if Finland verging on sex club chic. A little different I kept telling myself. The room upstairs however was immaculate, clean and comfortable. In addition to the great room the communal lounge and kitchen was a great touch making the venue feel less commercial and more a home from home environment. Meeting other guests again was great they were actually friendly and helpful. I began to realise that Melbourne is a warmer friendly more inviting City and the Laird shows Melbourne’s warm hospitality to the utmost . A big thank you to Mika who always smiled said hello and made time for us at the bar downstairs. Overall never judge a book by its cover and whilst being a men only hotel the Laird is a great experience in hospitality and I would highly recommend this venue.…
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Date of stay: August 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Brett_Lasham, Owner at The Laird Hotel
Responded 17 Sept 2018
Wow, sorry for taking so long to reply. Thanks for your honest and entertaining review - we hope this means we'll see you again some time. Cheers, Brett
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LOCATION
AustraliaVictoriaGreater MelbourneYarraAbbotsford
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Laird Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to The Laird Hotel?
Nearby attractions include MANIAX Axe Throwing - Abbotsford (0.1 km), Collingwood Town Hall (0.1 km), and The Curium Experience (0.4 km).
What food & drink options are available at The Laird Hotel?
Guests can enjoy a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to The Laird Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Jinda Thai, Three Bags Full Cafe, and Le Bon Ton.
Is The Laird Hotel located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.8 km away from the centre of Abbotsford.
Are there any historical sites close to The Laird Hotel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Old Melbourne Gaol (2.4 km), St. Patrick's Cathedral (1.6 km), and The Johnston Collection (1.4 km).