Stuart Horner of O’Hara Group reveals plans for Gracemere, Parkhurst pubs

The O’Hara Group only took over the Gracemere Hotel and Parkhurst Tavern four months ago, but the company already has big plans on the horizon.

New owner of Gracemere Hotel and Parkhurst Tavern, Stuart Horner, with Gracemere Hotel general manager Kyha Parmenter.

The O’Hara Group only took over the Gracemere Hotel and Parkhurst Tavern four months ago, but the New South Wales based company already has big plans on the horizon.

Stuart Horner, one of the owners, sat down with The Morning Bulletin for a chat about the company’s future plans for the Rockhampton region venues.

“Our big plans for both pubs is we want to clean them up a little bit, be a bit more family friendly, we do plan on putting in substantial playgrounds into both venues,” he said.

“We have some plans coming in at the moment, nothing has been set in stone yet, we are working with architects to make sure we have the best flows possible for the venues.

“We are looking at expanding both hotels.”

Overall, both venues will be getting a “bit of love” with a paint job at each hotel and work on the landscaping.

Stuart Horner with general manager Kyha Parmenter in the sports bar at the Gracemere Hotel.

Speaking about the Gracemere Hotel, Mr Horner said works there will include a resurfacing of the car park.

The sale of the Gracemere venue included the land across the road, which had been touted for a 30-room motel under the previous pub management.

“Eventually we will be looking at putting in accommodation, that will be a couple of years down the track … Gracemere needs a bit more accommodation,” Mr Horner said.

A new head chef employed at Gracemere is expected to bring a new twist.

“So we will be seeing some new menu ideas coming through, different flavours, which will be really, really good,” Mr Horner said.

At the Parkhurst, they have already implemented a courtesy bus for patrons.

“That’s really helped the local community getting into the venue and out of the venue at good times, it has been really well received,” Mr Horner said.

Living locally now for the new job, Mr Horner has had the chance to talk to customers over the past few months and said the new ownership has been well received.

“It’s quite positive I think, both venues were looking for a bit of change, both previous operators were brilliant in what they did, but people like to see change and that‘s something we will bring into both venues,” Mr Horner said.

Gracemere and Parkhurst are both earmarked as the growth regions for populations in the area, a drawcard for the O’Hara Group when buying the hotels.

It is the company’s first venture in Queensland.

“We have 20 plus in New South Wales so this our first move up here, if things go well we will looking to expand throughout Queensland as well,” Mr Horner said.

Buying two pubs and not just one was a business move which made sense.

“It’s always handy to have, especially when we are coming so far from New South Wales, to have sister venues in Queensland that we can help each other out, especially with the staffing shortages we have been experiencing up here as well, it does allow movement between venues,” Mr Horner said.

“Also growth, people looking to progress in hospitality, if we have a good venue or duty manager at one we can eventually move them up into a position at a different venue.

“They both have their differences, each one being on the either side of town, we aren’t competing with each other.”