The statuesque Hotel Grand View at Wentworth Falls has sold to growing hotelier Trevor Stanton, with plans to make it more approachable to more people.
Built 1883, the two-storey Georgian-style Hotel commands an elevated 4,074sqm corner site overlooking and landmarking the bustling Great Western Highway.
It provides a traditional central bar and lounge, Keno and TAB lounge and gaming with nine machines. large commercial kitchen and bistro with indoor and outdoor dining areas, function spaces and a newly developed standalone bottleshop, plus extensive off-street parking.
There are three accommodation rooms on ground level, and another sixteen upstairs
Stanton feels the grandiose building is a little intimidating and its appearance could leave people wondering whether it might be boutique accommodation or an exclusive club.
“Do I need to wear a suit?” he jests.
“I’m going to try to break that down and make it far more inviting to visitors, bringing atmosphere and character.”
The Grand is the next step in the Stanton portfolio, after acquisition of the freehold going concern of Jack Duggan’s Irish Pub in Bathurst in 2022.
The new pub is likely to benefit from a hands-on operator, having been run under management for the past seven years.
Stanton says he’s had a lot of success with music at Duggan’s, engaging local talent for jazz and folk music nights and developing a reputation in Bathurst for live entertainment.
He suggests they will “bring a bit of that to the mountains” at The Grand.
The previous owners invested $1.5 million into refurbishment of the hotel and Stanton compliments the work done, explaining he will keep the hotel trading as they go about what amounts to only ‘touch-ups’.
Wentworth Falls is an hour from Sydney and sees its share of the 4.4 million-plus international and domestic visitors to the iconic Blue Mountains each year, attracted to its world-class natural attractions and vibrant village communities.
Passed by thousands of vehicles every hour, the Grand View has potential to make its new bottleshop a drive-through, and Stanton wants to tap into the passing trade, making the pub an all-welcoming destination between the mountains and Sydney.
Overlooking the tree-lined Wentworth Falls village’s popular galleries and specialty shops, the hotel’s bistro will expand operations to be open longer to passers-by on one of greater Sydney’s busiest roads.
“The Blue Mountains is an awesome place for tourism – and it’s not going anywhere,” adds Stanton. “I’d be silly not to expand the offering to most of the day.”
Sale of the Grand View was managed by Leonard Bongiovanni of Manenti Quinlan & Associates, who also negotiated the sale of Jack Duggan’s.
“The Grand View is a truly iconic Blue Mountains pub with multiple income streams and a high standard of presentation.
“We congratulate Trevor on this strategic addition to his portfolio and look forward to watching the hotel continue to thrive under his ownership.”
