Mount Gambier’s Western Tavern reveals its Charlie’s comeback plan

Australia’s original, iconic Charlie’s all-you-can-eat is set to return 12 years after it stopped serving up grub in Mount Gambier. See when you can stuff yourself again.

They have been hidden behind a curtain for 12 years but the bain-maries will soon be brought back to life at an iconic Mount Gambier all you can eat restaurant.

Australia’s first Charlie’s closed in 2009 but Western Tavern manager Danny Scally has been working on a comeback plan since he took over four year ago.

He said a change in ownership made the move possible with pub operator Australian Venue Co purchasing the hotel from Coles in 2019.

Western Tavern manager Danny Scally has announced Charlie's will reopen in Mount Gambier, Picture: Jessica Ball

“As soon as I drew back the curtains, they just said, ‘What do you think it’s going to cost? Let’s get it happening’,” Mr Scally said.

“It’s fantastic to have a company that actually wants to invest and bring something back that the whole town is going to love and we know because we’ve been hearing it.

“We’re still getting phone calls today about Charlie’s today.

Western Tavern sous-chef Georgia Hart and manager Danny Scally have announced Charlie's will reopen in Mount Gambier. Picture: Jessica Ball

“It’s the number one thing the people wanted to bring back and see back in Mount Gambier.”

With the bones still there, Mr Scally said the revamp would involve carpeting, tiling, ceiling work, new pizza ovens, more chairs and tables, eventually a children’s playground and would create scores of jobs.

“We’re going to need at least three more chefs,” he said.

“At the moment with smorgasbords or a buffet, it has to be served to the patrons so we’re going to be looking for heaps of people to serve the food.

“We’re more than willing to put six to eight people on the stations and to run around and pick up plates just to make it work.

Western Tavern manager Danny Scally and sous-chef Georgia Hart have announced Charlie's will reopen in Mount Gambier. Picture: Jessica Ball

“Then of course, with a flow on of that comes more of bar work.”

With experience at Globe Derby Park, Walkers Arms Hotel, Swanport Hotel in Murray Bridge, Mr Scally knows what a good buffet looks like.

“The reason it probably stopped is they started using contractors to do the kitchen instead of running it themselves and the food offerings got less and less, and people noticed that,” he said.

“We’re never going to do that. We would rather take a loss than offer second class food.”

While there is no set reopening date, Mr Scally said they will confidently take Christmas bookings and once open will operate Wednesday to Sunday.

“I think it’s going to be ballistic for the first 18 months, to be honest I think we’ll be booked out well in advance,” he said.

After spending months out of the kitchen and the uncertainly the pandemic brought for the hospitality industry, sous-chef Georgia Hart was excited by the idea of being run off her feet again.

Western Tavern sous-chef Georgia Hart is excited for the reopening of Charlie's. Picture: Jessica Ball

“Those first three weeks, they’re going be torture but I think at the end of it, the hard work is going be worth it,” Ms Hart said.

“We’ll be coming up with some new stuff and bringing back the old buffet classics that we used to do and I’m really excited for the desserts.

“Everyone loved the honey chicken that we used to do.”