The bitter-backed Power family is looking to capitalise on its success at the Norman Hotel with trademark of its famous boast of being the “worst vegetarian restaurant”.
Named in honour of Queensland Governor Sir Henry Norman, who served from 1888 to 1895, the pub threw open its doors at Woolloongabba in 1889.
It has long promoted its meaty menu, championing steaks as the majority of its dishes.
Former Brisbane publican Peter Power turned his attention to brewing in the late 80s, opening his eponymous Powers Brewing at Yatala in 1988. The company’s flagship Bitter proved highly popular, claiming around 20 per cent of the Queensland market. CUB released Power’s Ultra Smooth in 2023, in tribute.
In 2015 Peter’s nephew James bought the pub lease for around $7 million from the departing Independent Pub Group.
The younger Power developed the successful ‘Personalised Plates Queensland’ business, marketing custom number plates to the State’s motorists. He had previously operated pubs and brought family backing after the big-ticket sale of retail property in Fortitude Valley in late 2014.
Now, in a potential expansion of the brand, the Norman Hotel recently applied to trademark its marketing tag beyond Brisbane, to also be the “Gold Coast’s worst vegetarian restaurant”, and tweaking the original to allow for expansion, with application for “Brisbane’s worst vegetarian restaurants”.
Despite its meat-loving mantra, the pub does actually also offer a vegetarian menu, and buoyed by its proximity to the Gabba, reports north of $7 million in annual revenue.
No specific plans for another location have been announced, with a spokesperson suggesting the move was a part of protecting the brand.
