The Roys have renovated and kick-started their big Erina pub, earning accolades before putting it to market as they look to more opportunities.
Brian Roy and son purchased the former Woodport Inn and went about reviving the large-format country pub to take advantage of its prime position on the Central Coast Highway at Erina, halfway between Sydney and Newcastle, each just over an hour away courtesy of improved infrastructure in the area.
The pub, built on a 3,800sqm block, has a 24-hour licence and is central to a mix of high-density commercial tenancies, providing for consistent business throughout the week.
The Roys traded through the renovation, and have been open in the new format for only a year. Gaming has seen significant uplift, after 18 of the 22 machines were replaced, and 17 installed in a smoking solution area.
Already the Hotel, now known as the Sunken Monkey, has garnered the AHA NSW Awards for Excellence for ‘Hotel of the Year – Country’ and ‘Entertainment Hotel of the Year’ for the now-thriving nightclub, which saw almost 1,500 revellers last Saturday night.
“People are just starting to discover the place now, and there’s a massive demographic of commercial, retail and industrial people in the area, so there’s some big opportunities moving forward,” suggests Brian Roy, speaking with PubTIC.
While Roy senior is considering moves toward retirement, the family still owns a real estate business with four offices, and is considering some property development projects.
“We’ve got a number of things we want to move on to, and that will be done independently of the current partners we have at the pub,” he explains.
“We’ve got some other opportunities we think will make us money, and we’ve done our job up there … it’s time to move on.”
The freehold going concern has been listed through Knight Frank’s Mike Wheatley and Kate MacDonald, who note further upside through the approved DA for extensions, and the continued uplift of the new renovations.
“This is such a well-presented Hotel in an excellent demographic, with strong revenues and obvious further upside,” says Wheatley, Knight Frank Director – Pubs & Hotels.
The Sunken Monkey Hotel will be sold via Auction Thursday 30 November, at Cooley CBD, Dexus Place.
