Western Sydney pub stalwart Michael Broome is bringing some of the best of the west to the northern beaches, taking on Dee Why’s beachside Deck Bar.
Broome’s Western Pub Holdings (WPH) operates several venues in Sydney’s greater west, including the immensely successful High Street Social, in Penrith.
He is a delegate for the region, although grew up mostly on the north shore, including a few years at Curl Curl, over the hill from Dee Why, and feels he can offer the locals something like they want.
“We’ve got live music coming in here and we’re going to do Sunday sessions; just value-add to what the beaches have got,” says Broome. “Bringing it back to where it was when it had a good name. A bit of service, entertainment, quality food … nothing special.”
WPH took control last week, Broome engaging local staff, and bringing his executive chef to look everything over. The first few days were a limited menu, but this week is all systems go.
One certainty is an outlet for the group’s famous burgers, voted in the Daily Telegraph ‘Best in the West’ the past couple of years. They will be found at Dee Why, along with Italian and “awesome” pizza.
The two-level bar will sustain a local pub feel on street level, with TV screens and sport showing, and the curated menu upstairs. It is currently licensed until midnight, but Broome hopes to get approval for later trading.
In a bid to revive custom and emphasize the new management, Broome enlisted a few Sea Eagles players, former regulars at his Northbridge Hotel, to rub shoulders with the beaches locals. This saw them busy on their first nights.
Taking over with a couple of years remaining on the lease, and a further five-year option, Broome is cautiously optimistic about the Deck’s future.
“The motto is keep it simple, but keep the quality high. I don’t want anything that’s too hard to make, we’ve got to try to keep that price point affordable for everyone and get the locals back.
“It’s a bit classier than a pub, but still offers everything.
“We’ll see how these two years go.”
Broome took over from Ben McBeath, who was called away to focus on grand plans to revive and reopen Newcastle’s Great Northern Hotel, finding himself stretched between the two, 160 kilometres apart.
McBeath had only traded Deck Bar for a short time, having executed a significant renovation, attempting to reposition the bar overlooking the beach.
The leasehold interest was marketed again through Knight Frank’s Mike Wheatley and Kate MacDonald.
“Dee Why is experiencing significant residential growth, yet the prime beachside retail strip lacks a local ‘pub-style’ bar,” poses MacDonald.
“Mike and his team understand the beaches and will do well to provide the community, and tourists alike, with a casual and consistent food and beverage offering. As incoming operators, they benefit from a truly stunning refurbishment by Ben McBeath and team, so minimal cost will be required to fulfil this charter.”
