Hotel Steyne: $8m alterations to iconic Manly pub get thumbs up from planners

A landmark Sydney beachfront pub is to receive an $8 million makeover. See what’s in store for this iconic hotel.

Manager Shelby Doyle at work behind the Round Bar at Hotel Steyne in 2020. It will be “returned to its former glory” as part of the new $8m renovations. Picture: John Appleyard

A historic beachfront hotel in a popular Sydney tourist zone is set for a $8 million makeover.

Manly’s landmark Hotel Steyne has been given the planning go-ahead to update its bars and make changes to the facade.

And the owners of the Art Deco pub, built in 1936 at the intersection of The Corso and North Steyne, will add eight more rooms to its upstairs visitor accommodation and make the beer garden more soundproof.

Sydney property tycoon Sam Arnaout’s Iris Capital bought Hotel Steyne for $65 million in 2019 from hospitality industry veterans John Singleton, Arthur Laundy, Robert Whyte and investment banker Mark Carnegie.

The Hotel Steyne in December, 2020. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

The DA permission comes less than two years after Iris was given Land and Environment Court approval to build luxury apartments, attached to the northern side of the pub.

Those plans were for a $16.2 million, four-storey “shop-top” unit block, facing the ocean on North Steyne.

And in 2020, Mr Arnaout used the extended Covid hospitality venue lockdown to give the Steyne a $3 million renovation including a, new cocktail bar, refurbished hotel rooms, a new coffee shop and a makeover to the Magic Millions Bar.

Work to refurbish the Hotel Steyne in 2020 while it was temporarily closed due to a COVID-19 lockdown. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

According to a State of Environmental Effects lodged with the DA, Hotel Steyne was described as a “is landmark building and a key destination in Manly for domestic and international tourists”.

“The proposed works will further renew the hotel and accommodation promoting Manly’s tourist economy,” it stated.

A diagram of alterations – part of an $8 million refurbishment – on level 1 at the Hotel Steyne, Manly, approved by the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel.

Documents lodged with the latest DA for the pub alterations show that its “heritage Round Bar” would be reinstated and “returned to its former glory as a saloon bar”.

“The works will improve internal amenity providing a modernised environment with diverse offerings for patrons to enjoy,” plans state.

There will be some minor changes to the pub’s facade. Picture: Manly Daily

A new bar would be created on the ground floor along with a new entry to the Round Bar, news stairs and landscaping.

On level 2, the existing bar would be removed and replaced with a new bar and bistro. There would also be “acoustic treatments” to the beer garden.

Changes to the pub’s facade include new ground floor doors, windows and awnings.