By James Atkinson
The Sydney Opera House has announced a new 10-year agreement with the Solotel group to operate the Opera Bar after a competitive public tender process.
The group includes principals Bruce Solomon, Anna Solomon and John Gallas from Solotel, and Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan from MorSul.
Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM commented: "We were impressed with the high quality of all the tenders in what was a competitive process. The Solotel bid was outstanding and the result will be a significant investment in reimagining the venue to enhance its status as a destination bar and restaurant. Solotel has operated the venue since 2001 and we’re delighted that Matt Moran will be taking a more active role in the venue."
Matt Moran said: “We’re absolutely thrilled. Opera Bar has been a tremendous partnership with the Opera House and we’re excited about taking the venue to a new level. There will be a greater emphasis on Australian produce, including a charcuterie, a raw bar and produce from my own farm.”
Solotel Creative Director Anna Solomon said: “We are looking forward to unveiling our new design concept and fitout for the best location in Sydney. But we’ll have the same welcoming atmosphere and, of course, the same million-dollar views.”
Reimagined and refreshed
The agreement will deliver a significant rethink and refresh of the venue, including:
- A more diverse food experience showcasing Australian produce, with new menus by Matt Moran;
- New customer offerings – a charcuterie room, a raw seafood bar and a new cafe section at the venue’s southern end;
- Better public access through the venue;
- An extensive refurbishment aligned with the precinct’s heritage values; and
- An improved financial return to the Opera House.
The existing long-term contract for Opera Bar expires at the end of this month.
The refurbishment will be carried out in two stages. The first will involve a four-week closure of the venue, with the exact dates to be determined. The refreshed venue will be trading before the end of the year. The second stage of the refurbishment is scheduled to take place in 2015-16.