Katoomba Hotel: historic pub to be upgraded

There’s more than a coat of fresh paint in store for the 138-year-old Katoomba Hotel. Find out what the Blackburn family is planning for their landmark pub.

Michelle, Allan, Carmel and Jane Blackburn inside the recently renovated dining room at Katoomba Family Hotel. (Picture: Angelo Velardo)

• Why was Leura Fire Station closed during Woodfire bushfire?
• Blue Mountains high school teacher charged with sexually assaulting female students

In 1887 Nepean Times described then six-year-old Katoomba Family Hotel as “first-class accommodation, combined with Civility and Moderate Charges”.

This 138-year-old historic art deco-style pub in the heart of Katoomba is a landmark and now

is set to undergo a further $120,000 transformation, or what its owners say is “the final piece of the puzzle”.

Owner Allan Blackburn said the proposed upgrade would include an extension to the dining area, a new back entrance to the Parke St premises, and a new outdoor entertainment and gaming area.

“We'd be serving 150 (meals) a day already, at least,” Mr Blackburn, 72, said.

“The dining room extension will add more than 60 seats and we'll also be able to do functions.”

The gaming area of the Katoomba Hotel is due for a facelift. (Picture: Angelo Velardo)

Publican Allan Blackburn hopes a new rear entrance will be complete by mid-February. (Picture: Angelo Velardo)

The new 3.2-metre by 12m outdoor gaming/entertainment area will be accessible via an adjacent gaming room off the main bar and externally via a new enclosed walkway and ramp beside the new dining area.

“I'd like to have this all finished by Valentine’s Day,” Mr Blackburn said

The new 3.2-metre by 12m outdoor gaming/entertainment area will be accessible via an adjacent gaming room off the main bar and externally via a new enclosed walkway and ramp beside the new dining area.

“I'd like to have this all finished by Valentine’s Day,” Mr Blackburn said.

Katoomba Family Hotel was opened by Ann Curnow in 1881 and a new building was erected in 1918.

The Blackburns have already completed work on accommodation at the pub. (Picture: Angelo Velardo)

The newly renovated dinning room at Katoomba Hotel will be added to. (Picture: Angelo Velardo)

The Blackburn family took over in 2004 and embarked on a massive refurbishment of the four-storey hotel, including renovating the rooms and dropping ‘Family’ from the hotel’s name.

The completion of this upgrade will be “the final piece of the puzzle”, said Mr Blackburn, who prides himself on maintaining their role in the community.

“We have Poker Monday, Darts Tuesday, and Plug and Play Wednesday,” Mr Blackburn said.

“Thursday we have a pool comp, Friday we have trivia and a band, Saturday we have a band, and on Sundays we have bush poets once a month.

“What we do seems to work, so we won't be changing.”

The pub is licenced to operate 24 hours a day.