Ironman Matt Poole dives into new Gold Coast restaurant

Starting up a new restaurant in the middle of a pandemic might seem risky – unless you happen to be a high-profile athlete with an Insta-famous girlfriend and plenty of celebrity mates.

Opening a trendy new restaurant in the midst of a pandemic might seem a risky move – unless, perhaps, you happen to be a high-profile athlete with an Insta-famous girlfriend and plenty of celebrity mates.

Champion ironman Matt Poole is preparing for life after life saving, diving into the Maman Bar and Kitchen venture in Gold Coast hipster hotspot Burleigh Heads.

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Matt Poole with girlfriend Tammy Hembrow. Picture: Instagram

A who’s who of the Coast social set including surf stars Mick Fanning and Steph Gilmore, Lincoln Lewis, DJ Paul Fisher and Poole’s new girlfriend Tammy Hembrow – the Glitter Strip influencer with almost 12 million Instagram followers – will be at Thursday night’s VIP opening.

Champion Ironman Matt Poole with Oliver Frost, Karen Fines (left) and Lizzie Frost at their new Burleigh Heads restaurant Maman. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Poole has joined forces in the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern eatery with good friend Oli Frost and Frost’s mother and aunt Karen and Lizzie Fines – two top female restaurateurs who have been personal chefs for the likes of Pink, Tom Hanks, Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey.

The Fines sisters opened Maman (French for mum and pronounced Ma-Mo) in Port Douglas earlier this year and have now expanded to the Gold Coast, partnering Frost and Poole in the new restaurant on Burleigh’s bustling James St.

A former Nutri-Grain Ironman Series champion and Coolangatta Gold runner-up, Poole has been beached by COVID and said Maman was a ‘super-exciting opportunity’ as he eyed retirement from surf sport.

Matt Poole (right) with business partner Oliver Frost (left), with whom he's opening a new restaurant called Maman in Burleigh Heads. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“I’m coming towards the back end of my (ironman) career now – I’m 32 and been racing professionally for 14 years – so I’m starting to look to transition into life after sport,” said Poole.

“I love going out, drinking alcohol and having a nice dinner so this is a match made in heaven.”

Mat Poole in action in the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series. Picture: Mike Batterham

Poole joked that he had ‘never worked a traditional day in my life’ and customers were unlikely to see him in the kitchen or waiting tables.

“I’ll be at the front door or behind the bar probably,” he said.

Maman opens to the public this Friday.