Open & Closed

PLAZA HOTEL OPENS IN A SYDNEY ICON

Posted on March 7th, 2025 by Clyde Mooney
The former and famous Star Bar has been reimagined, opening to “redefine the urban entertainment experience” as the Plaza Hotel. Winchester Hotel Group, under the creative direction of Sarah and Ryan Maloney, quietly unveiled what is geared to be the

BARRIER REEF ON A NEW WAVE

Posted on February 28th, 2025 by Clyde Mooney
The historic Barrier Reef Hotel in Cairns has resumed the game, under new owners, returning a near-full-time watering hole to the capital of FNQ. Image: Barrier Reef Hotel website Established back in 1898 as the Empire Hotel, the current two

AVC SERVES UP FRESH LOOKS IN SEQ

Posted on February 26th, 2025 by Clyde Mooney
Australian Venue Co continues to invest in venue improvements, this month revealing further refreshed looks for two of its Queensland pubs. North Brisbane’s Everton Park Hotel is the most recent overhaul, now boasting a sunny beer garden with its own

SONNEL UNVEILS MARRICKVILLE TRANSFORMATION

Posted on February 19th, 2025 by Jane Louise
Sonnel Hospitality has announced yet another hotel transformation, shifting its focus east to make more in Sydney’s inner west. Complementing news of the group’s unveiling $75 million remodelling plans across four of its key venues, Sonnel, formerly the Nelson Meers

CASTLE GROUP BUILDING IN MELBOURNE

Posted on February 12th, 2025 by Clyde Mooney
The newly-formed Castle Group Hospitality is ramping up operations in the Victorian capital, aiming to create experience-led venues that are more than food & bev. One of Melbourne’s newest boutique hospitality groups, CGH began in 2020 when it took over

HERITAGE HOTEL HITS THE HIGHWAY

Posted on February 12th, 2025 by Jane Louise
Adelaide’s 145-year-old West Thebarton Hotel has until July to close, destined for demolition as part of the North-South Corridor upgrade. The River Torrens to Darlington Project (T2D) designs mean the land the heritage-listed pub occupies will be cleared to make

HARVEST PUTS NEW SPIN ON TRADITION

Posted on January 31st, 2025 by Jane Louise
Harvest Hotels has recently unveiled two of its latest redevelopments – The Milestone Hotel in Dubbo, and The Old Pub Woy Woy. Harvest’s current portfolio encompasses 13 pubs across NSW and SA, with The Milestone and The Old Pub being

LIGHTS BACK ON AT BEACONSFIELD

Posted on January 29th, 2025 by Clyde Mooney
Twenty years ago, St Kilda’s historic Beaconsfield Hotel closed following the shocking death of former star cricketer David Hookes, and the subsequent backlash from the public. Now, owner Geoffrey Ogden, who runs several Western Australia venues with his family, has

AVC CONTINUES THE CAPEX IN MELBOURNE

Posted on December 4th, 2024 by Jane Louise
Australian Venue Co (AVC) continues to invest in Melbourne pubs, this time opening the Gardiner Hotel in Malvern while simultaneously unveiling its renovation of the Flinders Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula. Previously the old National Bank building, The Gardiner’s doors