Forest Hotel, Frenchs Forest: Pub opens Friday on old Parkway Hotel site
A new pub has opened in Sydney’s north just in time for summer holiday festivities and fun. Find out all about it.
Manly
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It’s officially open.
Beers are flowing and schnitzels and steaks are already sizzling at the newest watering hole on the northern beaches.
Built on the site of the popular old Parkway Hotel at Frenchs Forest, the Forest Hotel opened its door on Friday morning.
It’s part of a $45 million redevelopment on Frenchs Forest Rd East along with a huge Dan Murphy’s bottle shop that opened its doors in late September.
The major drinks and hospitality business Endeavour Group, which is the parent company of Dan Murphy’s and ALH (Australian Leisure & Hospitality) hotels, is behind the project.
It will eventually also include a six-storey, 100-room hotel on the land that was once occupied by the old Skyline Drive-In theatre.
Licensee of the new pub, Deb Haskins, told the Manly Daily, as she and her staff of more than 60 made last minute preparation for opening, that the Forest Hotel aimed to become a hub for the community.
“All our staff are from the northern beaches,” Ms Haskins said.
“We want this place to have a real community feel, a place where local people can come for a drink and a meal and entertainment with family and friends.”
As well as The Bistro, with a menu that includes classic pub meals and more, there is a large outdoor eating area, The Terrace.
Nearby, outdoor and indoor children’s play areas have been provided.
The Sports Bar, which also has an extensive outdoor seating areas, has multiple indoor screens as well as a “megascreen” showing the most popular sports.
Ms Haskins also showed the Manly Daily the large function room that can seat more than 200 people or close to 500 for a stand-up cocktail party or corporate event.
She said the hotel has an overall capacity for 660 people, based on current COVID social distancing requirements.
“We are abiding strictly by the COVID rules.
“We will keep everyone safe while they still have an enjoyable time with us.”
Ms Haskins said that while no bookings for meals are being taken for the opening weekend — thwey are just doing “walk-ins” — , she encouraged people to book a table in the future.
“You can even book a table in The Sports Bar, for example, if you’re coming in to catch a game on TV.”
The general opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 10am to midnight and between 10am and 10pm on Sunday.
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