Byron hospo wars: Light Years open fifth venue, The Smoking Camel, as Justin Hemmes buys up

Justin Hemmes may be buying in but the hospitality battle in Byron Bay continues to heat up as local operators Light Years open their fifth venue, The Smoking Camel.

Interior view of the new Byron Bay restaurant The Smoking Camel. Picture: Supplied

The hospitality battle in Byron continues to heat up with the operators of Light Years opening their fifth venue this week, at a time when Merivale tycoon Justin Hemmes is buying up big commercial properties in the area.

Founders Kim Stephen and James Sutherland, along with their team, will this week bring a new flavour to the area, opening The Smoking Camel, a Middle Eastern restaurant in the heart of Byron.

The venue is located on the site of their first Byron Bay restaurant: the Asian fusion Light Years, which they opened in 2017, and is next door to their Japanese Hibachi and wine bar Moonlight.

They also have Italian restaurant, Pixie, and Frankie’s Gelato in the area.

The Smoking Camel’s menu is inspired by the flavours of countries like Lebanon, Turkey and Israel and is being headed by chef Joachim Borenius, who launched the new Light Years location last year.

Interior view of the new Byron Bay restaurant The Smoking Camel. Picture: Jesse Prince.

The menu includes items like baharat beef shish, shawarma spiced chicken a watermelon, shanklish and mint salad and ‘village salad’ with whipped feta. Wine is sourced from Lebanese producers.

The cocktail menu includes playful drinks like The Turkish Delight, made with gin, cranberry, rose and lime.

Food spread at the new Byron Bay restaurant The Smoking Camel. Picture: Jesse Prince

Dead Sea Iced Tea at the new Byron Bay restaurant The Smoking Camel. Picture: Jesse Prince

Stephen moved to Byron from Melbourne in 2017, and says at the time, the area’s food scene wasn’t exciting.

Now he believes it should be recognised as one of Australia’s first-class food hubs with the introduction of venues like Italian restaurant Ciao, Mate and You Beauty from Matt Rabbidge, Luke Sullivan and Matt Stone.

“The change in town has been immense. So many great venues have opened up since we have been here,” he said.

“It’s happened quite quickly, last few years and it’s exciting to see new guys come up.

Light Years restaurant in Byron Bay, from left, chef Robbie Oijvall, managing director James Sutherland and creative director Kim Stephen. Photo: WISH/Elise Hassey

Justin Hemmes bought 111 Jonson St, Byron Bay for expanded commercial premises. Source: Google Maps

“These sort of venues attract people that love good food. It’s healthy for the town and hospitality industry.”

It comes as Justin Hemmes has commenced plans to transform local favourite Cheeky Monkeys, which he bought in 2021 for an estimated $13.5m.

In May, Hemmes also bought a neighbouring Jonson St property, which is currently occupied by Jonson’s Restaurant Bar, Asian grocery store Red Ginger and clothing store Bell & Ford for $11.9m.

Hemmes has also been buying up residential properties in the area, with two houses on Childe St, Belongil Beach which cost an estimated $38m all up.

While many hospitality groups are heading north from Sydney, Stephen adds in the future he would love to move South and open a venue in the harbour city.