Australian Venue Co. continues its strong investment into Queensland, with more renovations and the reopening of the idyllic Bribie Island Hotel.
Bribie Island resumed trading Wednesday (1 December) following a $2.2 million refurbishment, to create “a family-friendly hub”.
The new-look local sports a refreshed bistro, renovated gaming room, and a massive family-friendly beer garden with large lawn games.
The all-ages bistro opens onto the new beer garden, providing combined seating for more than 400 guests. Executive chef Dylan Kemp brings the reinvented menu of high-quality pub classics and contemporary options showcasing local produce, plus a new woodfired pizza offering. There will be bistro specials throughout the week.
Bribie will also now include a roster of entertainment and activities, such as Musical Bingo and Themed Trivia.
AVC says the renovation sought to celebrate the Island’s coastal charm, while revitalising the venue to cater to and reflect the easy-going Bribie Island community.
“We really listen to our locals,” offers COO Craig Ellison.
“At the start of the renovation we did a customer survey to inform the changes we’d make, and last week we invited a group of local residents and business owners in for dinner to preview the menu and get their feedback.
“It’s important to us to make sure we’ve built what the community want.”
Grand Opening Weekend celebrations will be held Friday 17 to Sunday 19 December, featuring a huge 20-metre kids’ Shark Jumping Castle. There will be complimentary roaming chef’s snacks and lucky door prizes (Friday), complimentary menu items, pizza and drink specials and live acoustic sets (Saturday), and free popcorn, kids balloon artist, pizza and drink specials, live acoustic music and Drag Bingo from 8pm on Sunday Family Day.
AVC has been following a program of capex on many of its operations in several states. In Queensland this has seen investment in multi-million-dollar renovations at the Crown Hotel in Lutwyche, Beenleigh Tavern and Kings Beach Tavern on the Sunshine Coast.
Furthering the program, Dunwoody’s Hotel of North Cairns has begun a $2.5 million makeover, across all areas, plus addition of a new outdoor bar and new dining area in the beer garden.
The sports bar is now closed for renovation, but the bistro and gaming room are still currently trading. The bistro will close in early 2022, returning with seating for 150 people, and 112 on the deck. The new beer garden, enjoying access to a new indoor-outdoor bar, will have shaded outdoor dining zones seating 106 patrons.
A new menu by executive chef Dylan Kemp will deliver high-quality and strong value across pub classics.
The bistro will also rock a new stage, headlining a big focus on entertainment and destined to host local acts.
The full venue re-opening is slated for autumn 2022.
“Dunwoody’s Hotel has proudly served the North Cairns community for nearly 30 years, and our locals have well and truly earned a refreshed pub!” declares Ellison.
“We’re investing heavily in this venue to deliver a total transformation for our locals.”
