By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
A swathe of venues have been transformed in Sydney recently, from some of the larger pub groups including Public House Management Group (PHMG) and Bourke St.
The new look of The Buena
A trio of venues across Sydney have been relaunched in the last week, including PHMG’s Buena Vista Hotel, renamed The Buena.
The hotel, in the North Sydney suburb of Mosman, underwent a rumoured $8 million refurbishment with the help of SJB Interiors and Tess Regan Designs, to create a more modern pub for locals. The aesthetic includes wooden panelling, marble bench tops, pressed leathers and elements of brass throughout.
The venue has now been divided into the The Buena Bar downstairs and the Vista bar upstairs. Moncur Mosman is set to open in a few weeks, bringing the famed Bistro Moncur of Woollahra Hotel to North Sydney.
Mitchell Waugh, director of PHMG, suggested that the renovations were made to cater to a variety of interests.
“We recognise the historically broad appeal of the Buena and like to think that in this renovation we have something for everyone, the sports mad should be thrilled with our big screens and dedicated sports bar, families will be able to relax in our bistro, and groups looking for afternoons and evenings of entertainment will be well catered to with our line-up of local musicians and DJs Thursday's- Sunday's.”
In south Sydney, Botany Bay Hotel has had its bistro revamped, with Bourke St operator Paddy Coughlan bringing in Lord Gladstone Hotel’s chef Ernie Priestly to take over the kitchen.
“The Botany Bay Hotel is a great pub. Until now, we’ve been buying venues that need a lot of work, and we then do a complete overhaul. The bones of this place were great – and we wanted to retain features like the sandstone and timber, which are a nod to the heritage of the venue. So this time around we’ve tweaked and freshened up, with the main changes coming in the kitchen via an all-new menu in the bistro,” stated Coughlan.
The new-look menu will focus on updated pub classics, including parmesan-crusted chicken schnitzel, crispy-skinned salmon, various steak cuts and Ernie’s famed cheeseburger.
In the centre of the city, Oscars Hotels have taken over a waterfront venue at Darling Harbour, opening The Port. The 1000-capacity venue has been transformed by architect Lainey Richardson, with a French Riviera look.
The Port’s menu will focus on share-style dishes, cocktails, wine and local craft beers. From Thursday to Sunday night, DJs will play sets to take advantage of the venue’s late-night trading license.
Interiors at The Port