Justin Hemmes splashed $6m on Coogee Pavilion makeover

PUB king Justin Hemmes is splashing out more than $6 million to create a high-end restaurant and cocktail bar on the disused first floor of his flagship Coogee Pavilion.

Plans for the new first floor dining area.

• Meriton want more units at Pagewood Green
• Coogee's Sophie Smith named NSW Local Hero

PUB king Justin Hemmes is splashing out more than $6 million to create a high-end restaurant and cocktail bar on the disused first floor of his flagship Coogee Pavilion.

Despite the Dolphin St venue being one of the jewels in Hemmes’s Merivale crown, the first floor has been closed off to the public for many years.

It was last used as an entertainment area for live bands and DJs when the premises traded as the Beach Palace Hotel.

How the new windows on the first floor will look.

Hemmes’s grand plan, which was approved by the Randwick Planning Panel last week, will see it transformed into a “sophisticated” and “up-market” restaurant with two “high-end” dining areas and a supporting cocktail bar.

The application also involves the replacing of the windows with new timber windows which fully open.

Aan artist’s impression of the new dining room on the first floor.

Coogee Pavilion is one of the most popular venues in Sydney’s east and one of Hemmes’s most successful.

With its views across Coogee Beach it is also a popular spot for Sydney’s glamorous and famous.

Merivale has said the first floor will be “up market” and “sophisticated”.

In the application to council, BBC Consulting Planners, on behalf of Merivale, said: “Level 1, once refurbished, will provide contemporary hospitality facilities within a heritage listed building, the presentation, functionality and longevity of which will be much improved through the proposed works.

Justin Hemmes owns pubs and restuarants across Sydney. Picture: Christian Gilles

“The refurbished hotel will have a strong emphasis on offering quality food and drink service … The proposal will result in a positive heritage outcome and will have social and economic benefits.”

The plans involve the demolition of the interior fabric of the first floor including stairwells along with the existing aluminium windows, columns and balustrades and some walls.

The new restaurant space will be open-plan. However, there will also be a private dining room, a wine bar and red and white wine rooms.

One of the more casual areas on the first floor.

The main room will also feature a cocktail and tapas bar.

For the staff there will be a cool room, dry storage area, pot wash and preparation area and dish washing and glass washing area along with a new kitchen.

Merivale state the first floor will have a capacity of 720 in addition to 1,100 on the ground floor and 620 on the second.

Coogee Pavilion has become one of the go-to venues in Sydney. Pictured are Kevin Kim, Cam Cranley, Luke Casey and Nathan McCallum at the Cosmopolitan Bachelor Of The Year Official Party earlier this year. Picture: Christian Gilles

The proposed trading hours for the first floor are 5am to 1am Monday to Thursday, 5am to 3am Friday and Saturday and 5am to midnight on Sunday.

The estimated cost of the project is $6,183,100.

IN OTHER NEWS