The Bayfields are executing a multi-million-dollar reimagining of their flagship Dee Why Hotel, ushering in a new high-end sports bar and “greenhouse-inspired” dining space.
Sitting on a high-profile corner of Pittwater Road in Sydney’s northern beaches, the Hotel has been owned and operated by the locally-based Bayfield family since Neville Bayfield acquired it in 1977, taking over operations with his sons Mark and Wayne.
Around 2010 the former pub made way for a multi-storey development, with a fresh Hotel at street level.
It is now undergoing another significant transformation, replete with retro finishes and a nostalgic nod to its family history, along with two new spaces.
First is Mr B’s – a retro-inspired sports bar, with vibrant upholstery and bold carpets. It’s “playful yet polished” design is set to delight local sports fanatics courtesy of a whopping 10-metre LED sports wall – the biggest on the beaches.
This is in fact a return for Mr B’s, named after the late Neville Bayfield but also the bar’s moniker from the 90s.
“The sports bar is going to offer one of the best sports viewing experiences in Sydney, and the feel of the entire venue will be lifted,” suggests group CEO Kaine Bayfield.
Also to be unveiled is Jade’s, a lush bistro and private event space taking inspiration from greenhouses, adorned in emerald green walls, soft pink ceilings and Art Deco finishes. This too is a new return to old, being the original name of the bistro in the early 80s, titled in honour of Neville’s first grandchild.
The design, by Surry Hills interior design and architecture firm Richards Stanisich, brings “local charm” and continues throughout the pub. Previously dark interiors will see more natural light, illuminating natural timbers and soft textures, and polished tiles in mustard, eucalyptus green and pink sand.
The goal for the Hotel, just minutes from the heavily patronised Dee Why Beach, is to blend old-school charm with relaxed, modern sophistication.
Accompanying the new look is a new seasonal menu, ranging hearty favourites and elevated pub classics, including new iterations of the Dee Why Hotel’s famous weekly burger specials.
Earlier this year the Hotel ramped up its social media and marketing, finding benefit in posting original and engaging content on TikTok.
The renovation is now underway, slated for completion during winter, but the Hotel remains open and trading as usual. Bayfield Hotel Group also owns the Belrose Hotel, and Bayfield’s Liquor Superstores at Dee Why and Belrose.
“Doing a renovation of this size and scale for a beloved local institution is a huge undertaking,” explains Kaine.
“We have a four-generation legacy at Dee Why Hotel, and we are so proud of what we are going to deliver to the community.”
