At his lowest point, Sydney publican Paddy Coughlan found himself with $50 in his pocket and two beers in the fridge. Source: News Limited
THE watering hole is getting spruced up. Pub owners are making sweeping changes to the local, introducing craft beers, top wines, and champagne nights - in a push to lure patrons back to the bar.
Pokies are also getting punted into back rooms, replaced by on-trend bar menus, event nights and cool courtyards.
We rate Sydney's pub barons, from biggest players (jugs) to market newcomers (pony)
Publican Nick Wills at the Balmain Hotel which has been newly renovated. Source: News Limited
From new federal MP Craig Laundy and relative newcomer Paddy Coughlan and his backer John Singleton, to mum-of-four Angela Gallagher and her husband Pat, hoteliers are targeting tired-looking pubs and turning them into money-making ventures.
Andrew Lewis, former pub broker who runs hospitality company Tactical Training Group, said:
"Old-fashioned pubs in areas with changing demographics are easy pickings for clever operator.
"Identifying the audience is key. Giving locals what they want in the way of food and drinks, a nice refurbishment, and sending in trained, quality staff will turn a pub around."
NSW Australian Hotels Association's John Green said it wasn't now good enough to refurbish or change a menu.
"Pubs constantly have to reinvent themselves - change their decor, change the food they serve and modify their outdoor areas," he said.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Has your local had a refurb recently? Do they stock craft beers or host champagne nights? Let us know in the comments section below
"There appears to be a bit of a reset of the industry at present. The Global Financial Crisis and adjustment of hotel values has resulted in some hoteliers picking up additional venues or substantially renovating their existing hotels."
Owner Kaine Bayfield runs the Dee Why Hotel which has just been refurbished and has 100 beers, including 40 on tap. Source: News Limited
Pat and Angela Gallgaher, parents to four young children, now run 12 hotels.
"On the whole, it's about putting the right pub in the right place," Mr Gallagher said.
"We've varied both our fitout and our theme to fit that (specific) market."
While he's "no Justin Hemmes", Mr Gallagher said themed pubs are the way forward.
"It's definitely not like you pull a (beer) tap and money pours out. A lot of work goes into it," he said.
The Gallaghers recently relaunched Nortons on Norton into an Irish PJ Gallagher's in once very Italian Leichhardt.
The De Angelis’ DHI group runs eight hotels including The Moorebank Hotel, which has recently been refurbished. Source: Supplied
The De Angelis family aren't a household name, but they have eight hotels in Sydney's southwest.
"The venue really has to be a good environment to walk into," said group operations manager Brendan Hood.
"We all have families and we want it to be a place where we would like to take our own families.
"Unlike a Balmain hotel, where people go as a destination, our customers are repeat customers or from local advertising, and if we don't get it right, they are not going to come back."
Designer Paul Kelly, who revamped The Oaks, and Ivanhoe, Manly plus Bourbon, Kings Cross, said pubs need to capture more than just drinkers.
"They really have to capture a very wide market because their customers are getting an impressive choice where once (pubs) were one dimensional," he said.
And change isn't limited to Sydney.
In Narrabri, the Crossroads Hotel licensee Campbell MacIntosh has renovated not only the bar and restaurant but has turned the former bottle-shop into a two-lane bowling alley.
Hunters Hill Hotel's top-notch full rack of pork spare ribs, served with chips and dips. Source: News Limited
BIGGEST PLAYERS (JUGS) TO MARKET'S NEWCOMERS (PONY):
JUGS
John Singleton, Paddy Coughlin and Rodney Kelly's Riversdale group, includes Unity Hall, Balmain, Bellevue in Paddington, Peakhurst Inn Hotel, the Toxteth in Glebe and Kinsella's, Darlinghurst. The group recently announced it was going to list on the stock exchange. It currently manages a total of 20 hotels and holds the freehold to five.
Peter Ryan, sons John and Patrick, have the CBD's Paragon, Republic and Ryan's Bar, Bar 333, Ship Inn, and Orient, plus Miranda Hotel and The Woollahra hotel, once home to the famous Bistro Moncur under the helm of chef Damien Pignolet who is now in the kitchen of the Riversdale Group's Bellevue Hotel up the road.
New federal MP Craig Laundy'sLaundy Family Hotels include the refurbished Quarryman's and Harlequin in Pyrmont, and pubs in Albion Park, Balgownie, Belfield, Rozelle, Charing Cross, Chester Hill and Chittaway Bay. The family, including dad Arthur and brother Stuart, recently sealed a management deal with Woolworths which own more than 100 pubs.
The Union Hotel is nominated in the Mosman Daily Small Business Awards. Pictured are owners Angela and Patrick Gallagher. Source: News Limited
SCHOONERS
The De Angelis'DHI group runs eight hotels including Moorebank, Bath Arms in Burwood, Bligh Park and Macarthur taverns and Picton Hotel. All feature a Fillipo's Restaurant, named after late family patriarch. The family prefers to remain low key.
The Arnout brothers'Iris Hotel Group, counts among its stable the recently refurbished Clovelly Hotel, Hunters Hill Hotel and The Forbes in the CBD. They have just bought Irish-themed PJ Gallagher's in Drummoyne and Parramatta from the Gallaghers and are in the midst of renovations.
Owners of The Monkey Bar in Balmain Patrick and Angela Gallagher. Source: News Limited
Angela and Pat Gallagher now run the Heritage hotel, in Harrington St, City and Monkey Bar Balmain. It adds to their renewed PJ's portfolio in Leichhardt, Enfield, Moore Park and Spirngwood, plus pub and French themed restaurants in the Union, North Sydney and Le Pub, CBD. All offer a group loyalty card.
Jaime Wirth's Drink 'N' Dine includes the inner-city's Carrington, Forresters, Norfolk, Queenies, Abercrombie, Ruby in Rozelle and former topless bar, the Oxford Tavern, Petersham. Wirth started the group with former Sumo Salad founder James Miller, who tragically died after and accidental overdose earlier this year.
Owner Angela Gallagher and Chef Ronny Ghantous from Le Pub in Sydney’s CBD. Source: News Limited
MIDDIES
Fraser Short, once of Keystone, now operates The Morrison in the CBD and The Watson's Bay Hotel, both recently refurbished. He's a brother to Martin and Ballantyne Short who relaunched The Royal in Leichhardt last month.
Licensee Hugh Clarkehas renovated the Imperial Hotel in Paddington, to create a gastro pub. His investment group, Ospitality Hotels, have now bought the Embassy/Heritage Hotel in Penrith, renamed it Tattersalls and are now raising the bar with food and service.
Rolly and Helen deWith sold the famous Fanny's in Newcastle, now called the Argyle, purchasing the Premier, Sunnyside and Junction hotels. All have great food and innovative decor ideas picked up from around the world. The Junction Hotel is 500m from Bar Beach and has a village atmosphere.
Riverview Hotel on Birchgrove Road, Balmain. Source: News Limited
PONY
The Bayfield family's newly refurbished Dee Why Hotel offers 100-plus craft beers with 40 on tap, plus new bistro menus. At their family-friendly Newport Arms, the beer garden has been segmented to create a drinker-friendly lounge zone. In February, they sold the Belrose hotel to Redcape group, which has 71 pubs.
Tim Condon is transforming The East Village, in Darling St, East Balmain (formerly the Commercial Hotel and Belgian Beer Cafe), much as he did at the nearby Riverview hotel, Dawn Fraser's former hotel up the road, which picked up numerous awards. He sold it to
Nick Wills.
Nick Wills is using AHA chef of the year 2012 Brad Sloane from his Riverview hotel in Balmain to turn the once dingy West End hotel, now know as The Balmain, into a trendy diner. It features a colourful beer garden, retro pinball machines, and on-trend chicken wings, ribs, sliders and other dude food.
The Arnout brothers’Iris Hotel Group, counts among its stable the recently refurbished Clovelly Hotel, Hunters Hill Hotel and The Forbes. Source: News Limited
No comments:
Post a Comment