Sonnel Hospitality has officially taken over North Sydney’s Firehouse Hotel, marking its first venue outside of Western Sydney and an important step in the group’s growth plan.
Sonnel Hospitality acquired the Firehouse Hotel from long-term publican Mark Barry in August, with the recent wave of redevelopment in North Sydney making it an attractive asset as the group expands into one of Sydney’s key metropolitan hubs. The sale also represents the first freehold going concern hotel to transact in the North Sydney CBD in 40 years.
Simon Meers, CEO of Sonnel Hospitality, commented: “When this opportunity came up, it ticked all the boxes for us – great location, excellent F&B foundation, and the potential for future development. While Western Sydney remains our heartland, Firehouse gives us the opportunity to establish a foothold in a new market while complementing the strong community connections we’ve built across our existing venues.”
Initially, while Sonnel familiarises itself with the venue and its patrons, newly appointed group head chef Fernado Sanchez will lead the kitchen. Sanchez joined Sonnel Hospitality last month after five years as executive chef at Sydney’s Opera Bar, with a focus on mentoring and building strong kitchen teams, strengthening supplier partnerships, and championing a produce-led approach to menus. The Firehouse Hotel will be the first venue he puts his mark on.
Tim Fitzgerald, chief operating officer at Sonnel, stated: “We’ll continue to keep things fresh, uncomplicated and approachable; that’s our philosophy. Firehouse already has great foundations, and with Fernando’s creativity, we see opportunities to evolve the menu and enhance the overall customer experience.”
While Sonnel hasn’t yet announced any immediate activations, Fitzgerald has indicated that events and community-driven initiatives will be central to the offering.
“Our venues are about more than just food and drink, we see them as community hubs and places for people to connect. Whether it’s the local business community or residents looking for a social hub, we want Firehouse to be a welcoming place that reflects the energy of North Sydney,” he stated.
“This is a busy time of year, and we’re looking forward to welcoming guests and hearing directly from them about what they’d like to see from us.”
The move into the Firehouse Hotel marks the latest development in a busy year for Sonnel Hospitality, having lodged $34 million expansion and renovation plans for the Crossroads Hotel in Sydney’s southwest. The group also announced redevelopment plans for the Ashfield Hotel, Ermington Hotel and New Victoria Tavern earlier this year.
Leading the group through this period is a new leadership team, which was appointed in April. The two key appointments include former Morris Hospitality CEO Fitzgerald as COO, and former Momento Hospitality COO Jacqui Corbett as general manager of operations.