Three Blue Ducks announcement of new restaurant at The Lodge Bellingen on Coffs Coast proves controversial

Celebrity chef’s Darren Robertson and Andy Allen have been caught in the middle of an ugly legal battle over the site of their new Coffs Coast venue – but one of the chefs says it’s “none of our business”.

Chris Sorrell, Jeff Bennett, Darren Robertson and Sam Reid of Three Blue Ducks. Picture: Facebook

Celebrity chef’s Darren Robertson and Andy Allen have been caught in the middle of an ugly legal battle over the site of their new Three Blue Ducks venue on the Coffs Coast.

The local favourite Hilltop Bellingen restaurant was situated at picturesque site The Lodge on Waterfall Way at Bellingen until about 18 months ago.

It’s claimed the Hilltop’s owners and workers were “locked out” by The Lodge amid an ongoing legal battle – which The Lodge has strongly disputed.

The Lodge site. Picture: Matt Gazy

Now, it’s been revealed celebrity chefs Andy Allen, of MasterChef fame, and Darren Robertson are set to take over the site and open another venue in the Three Blue Duck chain.

Carla Jones, Richie and Matt opened Hilltop after building a strong following at their Sawtell store on the Coffs Coast back in 2018.

Ms Jones initially said she was “sickened” by the Three Blue Duck announcement.

“That restaurant is the home of Hilltop at The Lodge – my restaurant,” she said on Facebook.

A cloudy day at The Lodge. Picture: Matt Gazy

Further, Ms Jones said she and her partners worked tirelessly to restore what was called the “Bellingen Valley Lodge” to the state it’s in today.

“We invested our own savings in the development of its restaurant and did a damn good job,” she said

Ms Jones claimed Hilltop was “locked out” by The Lodge, causing a massive financial and emotional toll.

“All of our belongings and investment still lies within its walls,” she said.

“It’s a good old kick in the d--k when some of your old colleagues and a business you once held in such high regard moves into it while you’re still fighting for it.”

Since the announcement, social media pages belonging to the Three Blue Ducks team have been overrun by angry Coffs residents and visitors threatening to boycott the new venue.

However, Ms Jones said Three Blue Ducks had since reached out and were “genuinely concerned about the situation we are in”.

The Lodge site. Picture: Matt Gazy

“We are now working together to find the best resolution for both of us,” she said.

A spokesperson The Lodge said it was preferable to avoid public forums and concerned parties would be engaged with directly – but hit back at what they dubbed false commentary.

“During the past week, The Lodge Bellingen and the new restaurant operator have been the target of false and misleading comments by a few ill-informed people on social media,” they said.

“The accusations in the public forum are baseless and factually incorrect.

“The Lodge is a family run business – we are excited about the reopening of the restaurant and our goodwill and commitment to the community is ongoing.”

Three Blue Ducks at Rosebery last year.

Three Blue Ducks has restaurants in Byron Bay, Rosebery, Brisbane, Melbourne and Nimbo.

Jake Hannon from Sawtell has been a chef in the area for 15 years and said people in the Coffs hospitality industry were “annoyed” by the situation.

“The Three Blue Ducks jumped at the opportunity when they heard what was happening at The Lodge,” he said.

He said there was a lack of respect shown to Hilltop and the Coffs residents who invested heavily in The Lodge.

“It’s ridiculous that they’re occupying a restaurant that’s currently in a legal battle,” Mr Hannon said.

Three Blue Ducks co-0wner Darren Robertson.

Chef and co-owner of Three Blue Ducks Mr Robertson said he was not aware of the extent of the disagreement.

“The landlord dispute was none of our business – but we did request it was solved,” Mr Roberston said.

Mr Robertson insists he has a good relationship with Ms Jones.

He said his team understood the negative community backlash.

“Whenever a business from a city moves to regional towns there’s an air of apprehension,” he said.

“We want to be part of the Bellingen fabric – not change the place.”

Mr Robertson said Three Blue Ducks has been doing everything possible to influence a speedy and positive outcome.

Chris Sorrell, Jeff Bennett, Darren Robertson and Sam Reid of Three Blue Ducks. Picture: Facebook

Bellingen residents have weighed in on social media, upset by the situation.

“The Lodge owners should be ashamed,” a woman wrote.

“How they can sleep at night after what they have done to hard working local people who have little mouths to feed at home is beyond me.”

She said the Hilltop staff worked tirelessly to rejuvenate the area and “plenty of locals will be boycotting this place, that‘s a fact”.