Fans of Lady Marmalade nearly fell over with excitement at the news that the cherished cafe was undergoing a major renovation. The iconic eatery was given a sprucing before is reopening to the public in late August 2017. Owners Sonja and Howard Searle worked hard on the expansion, taking over the shop next door to make the cafe even bigger and better than before. The renovation has drawn on the building’s history, featuring retro signs and original brick walls discovered during the refit, and now sees the cafe serving up to 60 patrons from its sparkling new kitchen. With the new look comes a new menu from chef Sam Axton (ex-Au Cirque) featuring some new flavours and come original favourites, as well as a liquor licence, with beer connoisseur Matt Kirkegaard designing the craft-beer menu.