The Fiddler’s swanky four-and-a-half star hotel to target corporate and tourist clients

A FOUR-STOREY 78-room hotel, including accessible units, will turn The Fiddler into a more complete entertainment complex and the biggest in the area.

The Fiddler’s new hotel and larger function room plans will turn it into the largest entertainment hub in the area. Picture: Peter Kelly

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A FOUR-STOREY hotel, including four accessible units, will turn The Fiddler into a more complete entertainment complex and the biggest in the area under a $20 million project to be completed in 12 months once the DA is approved.

The Lewis Land Group, which owns the 19th century Rouse Hill pub, has lodged a development application with The Hills Shire Council for a 78-unit hotel, including a swimming pool, gym and two new function rooms.

Alex Thorp, who is in charge of major acquisitions, Lewis Land Group, said the four and half star hotel has been a priority for some years.

The Fiddler has submitted a DA for their new hotel and function room show here in an artist’s impression.

“We are very excited about the hotel because we will be able to cater to both corporate guests and tourists,” Mr Thorp told the Rouse Hill Times.

“Since we bought the property in 2003, we wanted to expand but we had to shelve the hotel plans due to the global financial crisis in 2008.

“Now we want to move on and we have lodged the DA with the council.

The Fiddler’s general manager Sara Belling. Picture: Carmela Roche

“We hope we can have it approved within four months so we could start construction and complete it in 12 months.

“We will build 78 rooms in the first stage and depending on the market, we could construct another 40 rooms in the next stage.

“The area is booming and we have been thinking of this for many years.

“The time is right because so much is happening around the area, including the north west rail link and GPT expansion of the Rouse Hill Town Centre on the northern side.”

Still called by many by its old name, The Mean Fiddler — which dates back to 1826 — the popular pub has been steadily updating its facilities to cope with changing trends.

Mr Thorpe said the new hotel being built on the massive 2.9 ha site will complement the pub and provide them the facilities to cater to bigger functions.

The old and new signs. Picture: Toby Zerna

The hotel will be built on the existing car park at the northern side of The Fiddler with Mr Thorp saying they will still have 600 parking spaces which he reckons is more than ample for their guests.

“The new hotel will have two new function rooms, including one to cater to 250 guests,” Mr Thorp said.

“We want to service the very strong function marker and host larger weddings because we can also accommodate the guests coming from a distance.

“We are always big on functions and want to take it to the next level.”

The new hotel will be built on a section of the car park. Picture: Peter Kelly

“Our pub is trading very well under a terrific management and have made it more family oriented because we want kids and families to enjoy the food in a nice relaxed place.”

The Fiddler has also incorporated a more family-friendly atmosphere, turning its back on night clubs which, Mr Thorpe admitted had caused them some issues in the past — it used to be on the NSW violent venues list.

“We are trading better than ever after we stopped the night clubs because of the trouble,” Mr Thorp said.

“We also constructing a new 40-room hotel at our Camden Valley Inn, costing $10 million.”

FAMILY FAREWELL THEIR LITTLE GIRL

■ The Fiddler was purchased by The Lewis Land’s Drinx group in 2003

■ In 2008, the pub had lodged a DA for a 141-room motel, health spa, pool, gym and additional parking to be done in three stages

■ The Australian-owned The Lewis Land group has a portfolio of more than 10,000 residential allotments in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, where it is particularly strong at the Gold Coast.