FALVEY’S NEW HOTEL

The Brisbane-based Falvey family has reopened Falvey’s Hotel Yamato following a major refurbishment and repositioning for patrons’ drinking and dancing pleasure.

Peter and Kim Falvey, and son Michael, have owned and operated the pub since 2014. The family portfolio also includes The Cecil in Goodna, and previously the Imperial in Beenleigh and Railway in Charleville.

Early this year they were set for an all-out overhaul at Falvey’s Hotel Yamato (FHY), to be executed in two stages. The onset of the pandemic allowed opportunity to jump straight into both stages.

The FHY is one of the largest pubs in the Ipswich region of south-west Brisbane and warranted a $6 million makeover that reflects what the family determined the area needed.

Spanning 1,900sqm of undercover space, at the front is the main entry, with gaming room access. To one side of the Hotel is the kitchen, beer garden and café, and to the other is a new live music venue aiming to rival the Gold Coast’s legendary Playroom, destined to host sounds of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, but also other live entertainment, including boxing matches.

Designed to hold over 1,000 people, the layout is arranged such that the two demographic markets need never meet, and areas opened as required.  

The design by Brisbane firms Tonic, Clui and Janie Collins Interiors is “minimalist” in its approach, featuring a New York-style warm timber bar, lush leather seating and concrete finishes. An open plan dining space leads out to a generous beer garden, boasting a big 3-metre TV screen and the stage. 

Throwing the doors open again last week, Michael Falvey reports it is already trading “really well” and feels the project has fallen into place nicely, crowned by the first week of trade coinciding with restrictions easing to allow stand-up drinking again.

“Sometimes you work hard and you get lucky,” he says.

Wrapping up a five-month renovation, Michael is very happy with the “fantastic” result.

“I’m obviously biased, but enough other people have told me,” he explains.

The strong response to the front area has made the decision to hold off opening the 1500-person entertainment space easier, but once the restrictions ease further the hope is to welcome Daryl Braithwaite to headline opening night, and DJ Tigerlily soon after.

Michael admits delaying the final element has been better “for my sanity”, and even with coordination by licensee Steven Bradbury, to reopen the entire venue at once would have been a nightmare, amid new and returning staff and a suite of new procedures.

“We’ll wait until we can have a full crack. I don’t want to waste the impact. You only get to open once.”

Consolidating their holdings in a tightly-held market, the Falveys say they will consider upcoming opportunities for acquisitions but that the asset must be the right fit for them. Thirty-two-year-old Michael is “keen as mustard” and already counts 15 years in the game, still finding himself under something of a protective wing wielding 40 years under the belt.

“[Dad] still turns up and annoys me six days a week,” he laughs. “But I’m so lucky to have him.

“If I’ve got a problem, I’ve always got someone I can lean on who’s more than likely been through it before.”