Feros group has begun the next chapter of The Prince Hotel, officially unveiling the extensive redevelopment of the big Kirrawee greenfield.
New build the Prince Hotel opened early 2017 to much acclaim, soon earning a best in class award at the NSW Master Builders’ Awards for Excellence.
The popular pub has now thrown open its new expansion, adding 1,000sqm of floorspace to bring the total to more than 3,000sqm. A range of new hospitality offerings have been introduced to make it more of a ‘precinct’ and reinforce its role as one of the Shire’s premier hospitality and entertainment destinations.
Team Feros worked with Chris Grinham of H&E Architects to create a complement to the existing success and, according to Chris Feros, not trying to be “too clever” about it.
“We’re really excited about what we’ve done,” says Feros.
“With our team and Chris and his team, we’re getting a bit better each time … just getting our craft right.”
At the heart of the transformation is Social House, an adults-only hybrid of an entertainment lounge and sports bar that combines live music with a premium sports viewing experience, for a venue unlike anything else in the Sutherland Shire.
It features comfortable booth seating alongside state-of-the-art TAB facilities and multiple high-definition screens, with an elevated menu offering pub classics but centred around rotisserie favourites and pitched as a “chicken takeaway shop in a bistro”.
Further upgrades include new and expanded function spaces able to host everything from corporate events to large-scale community gatherings, and a new underground car park providing an additional 75 parking spaces.
Showcasing the renewed Prince’s potential as a true destination, well over a thousand guests attended the highly anticipated Saturday night launch on 23 May. Headlining the opening event were Dueling Pianos, with the pianists keeping over 800 guests singing and dancing throughout the night.
“Seeing more than 1,200 people join us for our opening weekend was a fantastic endorsement of the vision we had for The Prince,” says Simon Johnston, Feros Group CEO.
Two weeks into trade, Social House has a packed calendar of upcoming live entertainment, sporting events, dining experiences and community activities to take place throughout the year, and Feros says it seems to have really struck a chord with the locals.
“The numbers are far exceeding budget targets,” he discloses. “And I don’t believe it’s just a honeymoon, as we weren’t starting from fresh greenfield.”
