Harbord Hotel: Residents against pub’s new plans to expand with new bar and balcony

Plans to expand a popular pub with another bar and public balcony has seen a backlash from local residents. The owner says the pub will “remain a community haven”.

Residents living near a popular pub in Freshwater say plans to convert the first floor into another bar and lounge with access to a balcony will attract a “party-people demographic” and result in an increase in noise and anti-social behaviour.

The Harbord Hotel in Freshwater, underwent a huge $3m renovation to its ground floor premises in 2020, reopening early this year.

As part of the renovation extra noise reducing measures were put in place, including a set of airlock doors at the front as a buffer and double glazed windows. Some of the pub’s stunning heritage architecture which had been hidden under previous renovations was also exposed and enhanced, including beautiful archway windows and the original staircase.

The first stage of the renovation was extremely successful, with the pub seeing an increase in patrons.

Now it has put in a planning application for the second stage, a $2m build, which involves opening the first floor up to the public, with another kitchen, bar and lounge with access to a balcony, as well as a music recording studio in the attic above.

In total the DA will allow for 900 customers, up from 830.

Glenn Piper, owner of the site along with Lachlan Cottee, said the first floor will host comedy nights, trivia, local bands, podcasters and speakers, as well as offering customers the opportunity to enjoy food and drinks on the balcony for the first time.

The DA includes noise reduction measures and an additional eight carparking spaces on site.

In addition the pub would run a minibus service from Manly to Freshwater during peak times to save people driving to the venue.

Harbord Hotel owner Glen Piper. Picture: Madelaine Wong

Mr Piper said a lot of effort was being made to reduce noise levels, including double glazed glass around the balcony.

“We want the venue to remain a community haven where people can have a beautiful experience,” he said.

A third stage of the build is expected to follow which will see boutique accommodation built in what is now the car park, with the bottle shop remaining, although it would no longer be a drive-through, a new cafe and a new underground car park for 50 cars.

A number of residents have already written to the council concerned about the second stage of the renovation.

Queues outside the popular Harbord Hotel in Freshwater. Picture: Madelaine Wong

Mr Talofa Pouli, writing on behalf of 48 owners and residents of 30 Moore Road, said they “strongly object to the proposal”.

“An owner or manager of the Hotel has always lived in the apartment on Level 1, and been part of the community,” he said.

“This proposal changes what has always been a local pub to a large entertainment venue, which is inappropriate in this zoning.

“It will attract a different patronage from outside the area, day and night, and disrupt the amenity of the whole suburb.”

He added that since the first renovation and before the latest lockdown, residents had seen an increase in traffic, parking and public disturbance.

The half moon heritage windows have been exposed during renovations at the Harbord Hotel in Freshwater. Picture: Madelaine Wong

“Residents are already tolerating loud talking, bad language, taxis blowing horns, car doors slamming, rubbish and broken bottles in the street and people urinating in gardens and our carpark,” he said.

Alan Landon, of Charles St, said the site was being “transformed from a friendly local pub to a huge commercial project which is totally inappropriate for its position in the centre of all residential homes”.

Michael and Diane Mead, of Undercliff Rd, wrote, “this portion of Freshwater risks becoming a noisy day/night venue that pipes music into the surrounding locality that no longer attracts families but rather caters for a younger, louder, party-people demographic”.

While most submissions were against the proposal there were some in support of it including Emily Andrews of Surfers Pde, who said it would “enhance entertainment options and employment opportunities in the Freshwater community”.

Others said Freshwater and hospitality had suffered enormously during Covid and needed support.

Mr Piper said his first year of trading after the first renovation, which has included a 15 week lockdown and various levels of Covid restrictions, had been a “baptism of fire”.

The pub will be reopening on Monday.

“We are looking forward to seeing some customers back in the bar and all our staff back,” he said.