Dee Why Hotel: Historic pub set for $3m ‘refresh’

The renowned northern beaches’ hotel-owning family, the Bayfields, is spending $3m to refresh its flagship pub. See what’s planned.

An artist's impression of the new sports bar being built at the Dee Why Hotel. Picture: Richards Stanisich

A multimillion-dollar “refresh” of one the best known pubs on the northern beaches has just kicked off.

And the $3m revamp to the historic Dee Why Hotel is being undertaken by the area’s best known pub owning families – the Bayfields.

The pub, in its current form, opened in 2010 on the ground floor of the Dee Why Grand apartment, commercial and retail complex on Pittwater Rd after the original hotel, built in 1930, was bulldozed.

The family, starting with the late Neville Bayfield, have owned the hotel since 1977.

Now, even though the current 15-year-old pub still has a modern interior, Neville’s sons, Mark and Wayne, and Wayne’s son, Kaine, reckoned it needed a facelift.

Kaine, Wayne and Mark Bayfield, in the Dee Why Hotel this week. Picture: Supplied

And they should know.

The family, which also owns the Belrose Hotel, has massive experience in the pub game.

An artist's impression of the revamped entry being built at the Dee Why Hotel. Picture: Richards Stanisich

It used to have The Newport Arms, Narrabeen Sands, and Newport Mirage on the northern beaches as well as the The Light Brigade at Woollahra and The Caringbah Hotel.

Kaine, the firm’s chief operating officer, said that work had started at Dee Why on a “significant transformation” that feature retro finishes and a nostalgic nod to the pub’s family history.

The pub is bringing back “Mr B’s”, the name of its original sports bar from the 1990s, named after Neville.

It will feature, at 10m long, the biggest TV sports wall on the northern beaches in a “retro” bar with “vibrant upholstery, bold carpet patterns and an energetic and social feel”.

An artist's impression of the refurbished main bar. Picture: Richards Stanisich

Kaine said the design features would make the dark interior of the pub much brighter.

And there would some colour changes with turmeric mustard, eucalyptus greens, pink sand and polished tiles along with natural timbers.

“It still looks great, but it has been 15 years since it reopened,” he said.

“It’s time for a refresh and the place needed to be lightened up a bit. It’s quite dark.

“The sports bar is going to offer one of the best sports viewing experiences in Sydney, and the feel of the entire venue will be lifted,’ Kaine said.

The Dee Why Hotel in the 1970s. Picture: Supplied

“And a bunch of our competitors around us have done renovations.

“We wanted to give our locals and the community something to talk about.

“Something fresh and new”.

The pub’s eatery is also getting a makeover.

The bistro in 1979. Picture: Bayfields

Neville Bayfield, former licensee of the Dee Why Hotel. Picture: Supplied

The Dee Why Hotel in 1976. Picture: John Hawryluk.

The former Dee Why Hotel on Pittwater Rd in 2004. Picture: John Grainger

It will be called “Jade’s”, in honour of Neville’s first grandchild and was described as a “lush emerald greenhouse inspired bistro and private event space”.

A new, seasonal-based menu will be introduced, but the pub will keep its popular weekly burger specials.

Kaine advised regular, and potential new, customers, that the pub will be trading as usual during the renovations.

“We have a four-generation legacy at Dee Why Hotel, and we are so proud of what we are going to deliver to the community.”

It is hoped work will be finished by the end of July