Byron Beach Hotel owners propose more than $1 million in changes, including new kitchen

One of the region’s many businesses to be impacted by forced pandemic closures, the popular venue has again taken advantage of an opportunity for upgrades.

The Beach Hotel, Byron Bay.

A development application proposing changes to the Beach Hotel Byron Bay has been lodged with the council.

The DA for about $1.15 million worth of works on the venue, at 2-10 Bay Street, was submitted to Byron Shire Council on August 12.

It was this week placed on public submission; the community will be able to have input on the proposed changes until September 6.

BHBB TT Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Moelis Australia, has sought approval for the demolition of an existing screen on the lower ground floor level, demolition of the existing kitchen and part of certain existing booth seating and wine storage precinct on the ground floor and construction of a new kitchen.

“Certain existing bathrooms” and a chef’s office are to be retained and a new cooler room and freezer room would be built, according to the DA documents.

The Beach Hotel sold to Moelis for $104 million in early 2020 and the company took advantage of the earlier Covid-19 lockdown to refresh part of the venue.

Until the current lockdown hit, the popular pub was continuing to support local musicians with regular gigs.

Moelis CEO Dan Brady had previously flagged more changes for the venue.

In January 2020, about a month before the Beach Hotel changed hands, it hosted the star-studded Make it Rain fundraiser for the RFS which involved the Hemsworth brothers and Tweed Shire based comedian Celeste Barber.

Chris Hemsworth, Celeste Barber and Liam Hemsworth on stage at the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay for the second day of the Make It Rain Fundraiser.