Normanby Hotel has been dormant but it will come to life again this weekend
It took four months for the Normanby Hotel to change hands and just as long to give it a makeover, now the revitalised historic hotel will reopen this weekend. TAKE A VIDEO TOUR
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THE grand old dame of Brisbane’s pub scene, the Normanby Hotel, will be ready to show its face again when it officially opens this weekend.
The Pelathon Management Group, which also owns Grand Central Hotel, has spent some $3 million revitalising the interior of the hotel since closing the doors for renovations in early May.
Built in 1889, the Pelathon Management Group’s managing director Jaz Mooney said the aim of the refurbishment, which even included rebranding the name, was to restore community pride and character in the once lauded historic venue.
Even the third level of the building, which has rarely been open to the public, will be unveiled in October when it will be home to several new function areas.
“We identified an opportunity for the Normanby Hotel to reinstate itself as one of Brisbane’s most iconic landmarks,” Mr Mooney said.
“Our spirituality was to bring the grand old girl back and open on all levels. We want to cater for the needs of everyone.”
He said locals can rest assured that they have forever bade farewell to attracting Millennials through boozy Sunday sessions and car park parties.
The Pelathon Management Group’s focus is winning over families and local residents with its renewed interior, upgraded menu and a new loyalty program, he said.
“We are hoping for a seven day business model that’s why we have opened up the entire hotel because we want it to be an iconic hotel that the community adores,” he said
“The entire building has been stripped back and redeveloped while being respectful to its heritage listing and original character.
“Everything from the branding and bars through to the beer gardens has been thoughtfully redesigned to create an experience the community will love.”
The beer garden, on the lower level projects a tropical interpretation of a modern era outdoor dining area with a beach side party theme.
New bench seating is located in the upper level of the beer garden (Musgrave Rd end) which is protected by a modern L-shaped shelter.
There you can see glimpses of the massive 20sq m screen which sits front and centre in the lower beer garden and Mr Mooney claimed was “the biggest” single screen in any Brisbane pub.
While red and white are the predominate colours on the lower level, the decor scheme in the first floor Hounds’ Lounge is drawn from the historic team jersey of the Normanby Hounds Rugby Club which was formed in the late 1940s.
The outside beer garden on the first level will serve its own craft beer.
The pokies have returned to their original location in the former Bovine Restaurant and the newly renovated room promises to be Queensland’s first VIP Lounge.
When it officially opens on Saturday, it will be almost four months to the day that the Pelathon Management Group secured the leasehold, with an option to buy, the venue.
The deal to take it over took as many months to land as the renovations and the wait has been worth it on both occasions, said Shaun Dunleavy of the Winchester Group which has overseen the project.
Mr Dunleavy led the team behind the $10 million upgrade of the Regatta Hotel in 2012 and architects BSPN promised that the finished product would be “on trend”.
He said the Hounds Lounge, with studded leather seats and very much in tune with a traditional English pub, pays homage to the Normanby Hounds which fielded a side in Shift Workers League in the 1950 and used the venue as their clubhouse.
“The upper floor now pays tribute to the club with the walls adorned with their proud history and reflected through the interior design and decor,” Mr Dunleavy said.
Besides a fresh, bright feel and being intent on restoring its reputation, there will come a day when patrons can again socialising under a fig tree in the beer garden.
The original, 100-year-old fig tree came crashing down during a storm in 2016 and its rotted base was an eyesore in what was then the-smokers den in the upper level of the beer garden.
“We’ve planted a new one in its place as a symbol that the Normanby Hotel is back to its old roots, resurrected and ready for Brisbane to create new memories,” Mr Dunleavy said.
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