Byron Beach Hotel’s owners Moelis Australia revamp venue to improve food and live music

More than $3.5m is being poured into a major overhaul of a landmark Byron pub that is promising to be better than ever when it emerges from lockdown.

Moelis Australia chief exectuive Dan Brady says his company is working through an overhaul of the Byron Beach Hotel. Picture: Contributed

Big money is being pumped into one of Byron Bay’s most popular hotels.

The Beach Hotel was purchased by Moelis Australia in early 2020 and they have big plans for the famous venue.

A proposal submitted to Byron Shire Council outlines a $1 million kitchen revamp and Moelis chief executive Dan Brady said another $2.5 million worth of “non- development application” upgrades were currently under way.

Mr Brady said sound and lighting capabilities were being overhauled by highly-skilled technicians who would otherwise be working on international live music tours.

He said it came while the business kept staff on the payroll with full pay through the lockdown.

“Through this period we’re putting in an installation of world leading equipment,” Mr Brady said.

“We’ve seen a lot of local collaboration going on with producers and engineers and artists.”

So when live music does return to the venue, he said it would be better than ever.

“That’s a core part of the Beachy experience,” he said.

“These are people that would be doing world tours.”

Mr Brady said the kitchen renovations would bring the Beach Hotel’s food and drink offerings to the next level.

He anticipates the new kitchen will be up and running before the end of the year, subject to the council approval.

“We feel we’re taking a very measured view in what we’re asking for,” he said.

Staff serve drinks at the Byron Beach Hotel. Picture: Contributed

He said it was important to the business to keep staff on the payroll and they’d been offered online training.

Mr Brady supports a measured approach to reopening businesses.

“I think (the) government is working diligently through how to open up the regions and Sydney,” he said.

The Beach Hotel at Byron Bay is being overhauled while closed for lockdown.

“I think we all watch the numbers and we see that this government is very aligned to vaccination rates being (linked) to how to open up.

“The idea of opening up and doing it in a way that is sustainable is just critical.”

Mr Brady said more “master planning proposals” were on the cards for the hotel and would likely be revealed mid to late next year.

He said “well over 100” people had already been consulted.

“It’s larger scale work,” he said.

“It’s very much work that sits within the spirit and design of what’s there today.

“It’s very strategic, it’s long term. We expect to take a long time (consulting) with the community.”