The Royal Exchange Hotel, or 'RE' as it is known locally is a popular pub at the centre of Toowong, Brisbane on High Street.
The Royal Exchange Hotel is a popular with local office workers and also University of Queensland students due to its proximity to the university. 'I would rather be at the RE' is the tag line used in advertising. This 'tag line' came about because of the hit song 'Counting the Beat', by The Swingers, which was sung many times in the Beer Garden by the then locals (around 1979, and of whom I was one) using the altered lyrics, "At the RE, At the RE, there ain't no place I'd rather be", instead of the song's lyrics of "Thinking about just you and me, la da de de, there ain't no place I'd rather be La da de da, la da de da, la da de da, la da de da," etc. The student population make up the majority of night time patrons with several events aimed at students.
The historic building has developed problems and with no major renovations in recent years and it may degrade further. In the early part of 2007 the Royal Exchange building was re-roofed, and also had a new paint job. Also in 2007 the pub was featured in the locally produced movie, All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane.