The reconfigured Moreton Hospitality is suggesting to “Expect more” as it returns to its roots, with a name change and reimagined reinstatement of Broadbeach favourite the Beach Hotel.
Anthony Moreton Group (AMG) bought the original Beach Hotel at 50 Surf Parade in Broadbeach in 2013, and managed it until 2015. Equipped with expertise in property development and investment, the company demolished the pub to make way for a 35-storey mixed-use tower, comprising 219 residential apartments and over 1,800sqm of retail space at street level.
The management rights business was sold to Minor Hotels and the tower was rebranded Avani Broadbeach Residences, but AMG retained the retail space and oversaw fit-out for a restaurant and pub.
AMG has long partnered with Ben Walsh, and his The Good Time Group (TGTG), and in 2019 Miss Moneypenny’s Broadbeach and Fat Freddy’s Sports Bar & Diner were launched at the site.
In 2022 the two groups went on to form a partnership to acquire the Beach Hotel Stradbroke Island.
Last month AMG bought out TGHG’s share of the Hotel at Stradbroke Island and the precinct at Surf Parade, including its associated detached bottleshops, to become the newly-formed Moreton Hospitality, which proclaims a “strategic shift” toward an upmarket pub direction, and a return to the past with the revived Beach Hotel Broadbeach.
Ben Walsh’s group assumes full ownership of Miss Moneypenny’s in Noosa, as part of the transition.
The Surf Pde precinct has been undergoing refurbishment, and is poised to unveil a reimagined concept, ushering in both two new venues and the end of an era for the award-winning Miss Moneypenny’s and Fat Freddy’s Broadbeach.
Opening 29 November, the new Beach Hotel Broadbeach returns to its former home, although now more “community-centric” and welcoming families and children for the first time.
This will be preceded by the new private function room, dubbed The Club House, set in what was Miss Moneypenny’s Rimini Room, and on 5 December comes Cora, bringing elevated dining for all.
Moreton see the revitalised spaces and a contemporary new menu as bringing the “vibrance back” for the quintessential pub experience of great food, drinks and live entertainment.
“And that unmistakable beachside vibe,” adds Moreton COO Lance Burrows.
“We’re excited to bring back ‘The Beach Hotel Broadbeach’, and restoring the hotel to its original name.”
The renovations include an extended alfresco dining area spanning the entire frontage, with a new dedicated bar, designed to enhance the pub’s street presence and contribute to a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere. There are new TAB facilities, wall-to-wall screens for live sports, and a VIP luxury gaming lounge.
Residing on the northern side of the property, Cora introduces a unique dining experience combining modern Australian cuisine with flavours of the Mediterranean, amid an atmosphere described as “more energetic”, with funk and disco elements.
Based in south-east Queensland, Moreton group will retain all Miss Moneypenny’s and Fat Freddy’s key staff, while strengthening the team with experienced corporate professionals to support the group’s expansion ambitions.
The group also heralds a major refurbishment of the Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel for next year.
Devotees of Miss Moneypenny’s and Fat Freddy’s are being invited to come in and enjoy their favourites “one last time” and the new operators will honour all gift vouchers until their original expiry date.
“We listened to our customers and the new direction reflects this, with a dynamic coastal offering to welcome locals and visitors alike,” concludes Burrows.
