By Clyde Mooney
Friday night in Sydney saw the launch of the new and improved Fairfield Hotel in a tribute to community engagement in a highly multi-cultural area.
Over 500 thirsty guests joined the AHA and Mayor of Fairfield City Frank Carbone, for the hotel’s re-opening and the launch of its impressive Lao Thai restaurant, Green Peppercorn.
The project has been a focal point of the community, with the operators mindful of using local businesses, such as plumbers, locksmiths, printers, and Bing Lee – which started in Fairfield – who supplied the 57 plasma televisions throughout the venue.
The hotel is operated by the O’Hara Group, and is made up of a group of part-owners, including general manager and licensee, Campbell Rogers.
Fairfield Hotel's Green Peppercorn restaurant
"I really appreciate the support we were shown on the night, it was a great turnout," Rogers told TheShout.
CEO of the AHA NSW, Paul Nicolaou, commended the group for rising to the challenge of re-working an old pub into a successful business.
"Congratulations to Campbell and Tona – the place looks fantastic, and they have obviously thought how to best service patrons in the local area.
"In the changing environment in which we live it is important that hotels upgrade and modernise, and I encourage the industry to look at ways of doing this.
"Food is becoming a major component in pubs, and it is important to provide a venue that is clean, tidy, and amenable to the local community.
"I applaud them for trying something different – it is important the industry is seen as not just being about alcohol.
"When you get a mixture of business, it reduces the chances of anti-social behaviour, and the community feels they have somewhere they can go and have great time."