Details of the refurbishment of Manly’s Hotel Steyne revealed
Which iconic and much-loved northern beaches pub is set for a multi-million dollar makeover?
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Known affectionately by locals as “The Drain”, work has begun to refurbish the landmark Hotel Steyne.
The much-loved beachfront pub at Manly was bought last year by a property developer and “pub baron” Sam Arnaout for a reported $62.5 million.
Mr Arnaout said at the time that he wanted to return the hotel to its “former glories”.
“We would not look to spoil what’s good about the Hotel Steyne. We would look to embrace and improve upon the attributes, its heritage nature, everything that’s beautiful about it, that the locals love about it.”
Mr Arnaout also revealed that the Steyne was “one of the largest bulk-beer venues in Australia”.
In an interview with the Manly Daily last year the new owner said he was not expecting to make any radical changes to the property at this stage.
But he did tell Australian Hotelier that he was looking towards enacting a development application to increase the number of hotel rooms.
“Generally a bit of TLC, bringing the joint back to its former glories is pretty much where our focus will be.”
Documents on the Northern Beaches Council website said the owners want to increase the number of hotel rooms from 28 to 41.
This week workers were on site to fix some of the building’s brickwork, but DA documents on the council website show that more than $3 million will be spent making alterations and additions, mostly to the hotel’s three-star accommodation on the first floor.
There are also moves to replace the awning on The Corso side of the building, install new doors on to North Steyne and put up new signs.
The proposal includes alterations to the ground floor gaming room, improvements to the kitchen, “opening up” the courtyard, refurbishing seating and bars and new awnings above seating areas within the courtyard,
“The hotel entrance will be via the double doors located on the eastern end of the North Steyne,” the councils DA Assessment report said.
Upgrades to accommodation include new bathrooms and airconditioning to every room.
On the second floor the existing “Blacket’s Bar” will become an administration office.
In February the council ordered repair works to all facades and the hotel’s six Juliet
balconies. That work has started.