An iconic coastal pub has hit the open market for the first time in its 120 years, as generational owners decide to turn the page on Newcastle’s famous Beach Hotel.
The site of the Beach Hotel has been a pub since the late 1890s, although the current building was constructed by Tooths & Co circa 1939.
The classic curved brick façade fronts three levels, with multiple bars, kitchen and bistro, expansive verandas, diversified function areas, a gaming room with 17 EGMs, smoking solution, TAB and Keno, a residence on the top floor and parking at the rear, with a two-car garage.
Located just three kilometres from the heart of Newcastle, it sits on a generous 1,858sqm elevated block, allowing panoramic ocean views across Merewether Beach.
Merewether Beach is home to Australia’s largest celebration of surfing – Surfest Newcastle. The 2020 festival next February will see more than 800 competitors and thousands of tourists.
The pub had operated under a succession of Tooths tenants when Jim Bale took the keys in the mid-70s. He was licensee for the next decade before selling to the greater Bale family, which had left a business growing bananas in the Tweed Valley to operate a run of pubs, starting with Singleton’s Albion Hotel, in the 1950s.
The Bales subsequently acquired the Hotel’s freehold from Tooths.
After a time, a live-in manager was sought for the Beach, and near relative John Twohill and his wife Lynn took on the role. A few years later they bought into the freehold operation and a partnership has endured to this day.
The Bale and Twohill families have now advised that the re-stapled Hotel is on the open market – for the first time in its long history.
“All good things must come to an end,” says family matriarch, Joan Bale.
They have engaged local agent Moore & Moore Real Estate’s Deane Moore, in conjunction with Knight Frank’s Mike Wheatley, with no price guidance offered.
As a landmark of the area, the pub has been the site of countless community Sunday afternoons, first dates and wedding proposals, and enjoys consistent trade year-round.
“Everyone’s got a tale to tell about their time at the Beach,” says Moore. “I really believe the word iconic is the right term for this asset.
“And after nearly 45 years of ownership the partners have decided to move on, creating a very attractive opportunity.”
The freehold going concern of the Beach Hotel is being offered via Expressions of Interest, closing Wednesday, 13 November.
