Harris Narvo Hotels has announced the completion of a labour of love and official opening of the brand-new historic Hotel Gosford.
The milestone comes after a decade of planning and a renovation that has taken the past 18 months.
“It’s been ten-plus years in the making,” says Jordan Harris, group general manager, investor and son of group patriarch Peter Harris.
“Our first concepts were drawn up back in 2010, and truthfully, back then, we couldn’t have dreamt of it turning out as incredible as it has.”
The heritage-listed Hotel Gosford has been an active part of the Central Coast social scene since 1926, and was purchased in 1998 by local publican Peter Harris.
The family engaged Bergstrom Architects, who worked with builders Evolve Constructions to bring the new look, incorporating rich dark timbers and touches of brass, ambient lighting, raked ceilings and high windows. Exposed brick, steel and raw concrete bolster a timeless colour palette.
At the hotel’s heart is Earl’s Kitchen, which had to be completely demolished and rebuilt. Earl’s prides itself on making so many elements of dishes in-house, and new head chef Mark Wisemen brings a new menu, offering a selection of pub classics, fresh produce-focused salads, and locally-sourced seafood, steaks and rotisserie meats.
Accompanying the Kitchen is The Saloon sports bar and the VIP lounge. The Saloon was part of the earlier stages of renovation and has been open to the public since last Christmas Eve. It features a four-metre mega screen and is packed with historic sports memorabilia.
Drinks at the Gosford come via 32 rotating taps in the bars, a wine list ranging a wide variety of locally sourced and handpicked labels, and your choice of classic or signature cocktails.
Outside, the beer garden provides an all-weather retractable roof, and the external wall a freshly painted historic Resch’s mural.
Events will be an ongoing part of life at Hotel Gosford, continuing CBD Social on Fridays, while new on the agenda will be ‘High Society Saturdays’, followed by ‘chill beats, roast beats and cheap spritz’ new to Sundays.
Jordan Harris now oversees the day-to-day at the Gosford. He says they were committed to respecting the roots and heritage of the building itself and the Gosford area.
The family continue to be passionate about keeping the pub’s history alive, while creating “a new and contemporary space for the Central Coast community to call home”.
