Guildford Hotel undergoes $5m renovations to be ready by mid-April 2024

A tired western Sydney watering hole, about to reach 100 years in business, is undergoing a $5m makeover to attract families hankering for classic pub grub. See which local will be revamped.

Guildford Hotel is undergoing a major makeover.

A beer garden, bistro, cocktail lounge and children’s play area are planned as part of a $5m overhaul of the Guildford Hotel – to turn it into a venue for families pining for some pub grub in a suburb already rich with Middle Eastern eateries.

Nelson Meers Group has tagged the Guildford Rd watering hole as the first pub off the rank for renovation projects at its venues across Sydney’s west and inner west, including the Crossroads Hotel at Casula and the Ermington Hotel.

Marketing manager Chris Farnon said Guildford Hotel became its priority after it identified a gap in the market for a family-friendly pub in the suburb, which is best known for its manoosh and charcoal chicken.

“This is our pride and joy,” Mr Farnon said as he inspected the shell that will become a bistro adjoining a beer garden where Western Sydney University students and artist Nico Nicoson’s mural of Parramatta’s Lennox Bridge and Guildford pipelines will come to life.

The sports bar is slated to open in mid-February and will feature a 3m screen, while the bistro and cocktail lounge are expected to serve beverages by mid-April with distiller Peter Clarke designing the drinks.

Guildford Hotel licensee Kimmie Mel and Nelson Meers marketing manager Chris Farnon inspect plans in the bistro area.

The future beer garden.

Gone will be the outsourced caterers, with in-house staff to serve pub classics and newbies from the kitchen.

Guildford Hotel licensee Kimmie Mel hopes the upgrades will help draw a broader demographic to the pub that typically attracts an older, male crowd.

“We’re hoping to open it up to people and make it family-friendly,’’ she said.

Mr Farnon said research showed there was a demand for a revamped pub, with 62 per cent of local respondents saying the main reason they went to a pub was to have dinner.

“We don’t want riff raff coming here, we want families,’’ he said.

“We want families to feel safe and for kids to feel safe.’’

A horseshoe bar planned for the hotel.

An artist’s impression of the bistro area.

Almost 40 per cent of Guildford’s population is Islamic, a religion that restricts alcohol consumption but Nelson Meers’ research showed there was an appetite for an upgraded pub from other parts of the community keen on a family-oriented venue.

“For us it’s about having a place that families feel welcome,’’ Mr Farnon said.

“That’s the key thing and it’s about changing perceptions and changing what people think – showing it’s a great place, it’s a great little hub.’’

Regular patrons such as Paul Sherring, who has lived at Guildford for 40 years, have welcomed the renovations.

“I think it will be good,’’ he said.

Guildford Hotel regular patron Paul Sherring.

The stonemason, who works in the city, says he has a beer most days at the hotel.

Outside the pubs, Cumberland Council has started steps to revitalise the town centre through its public domain plan, which includes attractive seating areas, planting and lighting, improved footpaths and public art along Guildford Rd east and west, and Military Rd.

“We like to think that our venue demonstrates local businesses’ commitment to turning

Guildford into a vibrant community district,’’ Mr Farnon said.

The council will review its submissions into the public domain following the public feedback period, which has now closed.