Matt Moran, celebrity chef and partner to Solotel, has bought the historic Rockley Pub, bringing big plans for the town.
Rockley is a picturesque village 35 kilometres south of Bathurst, or 220 west of Sydney. Built 1872 by William Brownlow it traded for many years as the Club House Hotel, but is known to all as the Rockley Pub.
While the pub has stood for almost a century and a half, Moran’s connection to Rockley goes back even further. His family has owned farms in the area since the 1850s, his great grandfather was married in town in 1883 and Matt Moran himself has owned a farm there for 20 years.
Keith and Vanessa Wade purchased the freehold from Tom and Carola Clune in late 2015, and have now agreed to sell the fruits of their labour to the celebrity from Sydney.
“We wish Matt all the success in his new adventures,” says Vanessa. “It will be exciting to see him build on what we, and previous owners, have achieved over the last 149 years.”
Moran will take over mid-July, and thanks the Wades for their professionalism throughout the sale process.
“It has been such a pleasure working with you. I wish you all the best in whatever the future brings.
“You were made for hospitality and I hope one day you come back into it.”
Plans are to close the pub for a few months while it is renovated. Stage one will bring a new beer garden and covered area, accommodation rooms activated upstairs, and of course, a new restaurant.
Stage two will reportedly add to the accommodation offering and eventually add a retail presence, such as a general store or bakery, to further the appeal of the town as a stopping point.
Moran cites that local and regional tourism are “on the rise” and hopes to breathe a little more life into one of his favourite parts of the world.
“To all the Rockley locals, I can’t wait to meet you all and look forward to this new adventure together.
“I may be a city slicker, but my true roots lay in the country. As some of you know, the farm is where I am happiest.”
