The Norfolk Hotel: The People announce radical new look for pub

Sydney is in the midst of pub revolution with Redfern’s Norfolk Hotel leading the way. The old favourite now has a room for YouTubers and an organic wine bar.

A recording room for podcasters, Tik Tokers and YouTubers, co-working spaces and an organic wine bar – if this doesn’t sound like the grungy old Norfolk you know and love that’s probably because it isn’t.

The local institution on the Surry Hills border of Redfern is the first of half a dozen inner city venues to receive a spit and polish courtesy of The People – a new hospitality group co-founded by Clovelly’s Paul Shulte and Marrickville’s Andrew Taylor.

Helen Griffen – Designer (studio) and Joanne Sproule – Group GM, at The Norfolk. Picture: Monique Harmer

The $2 million renovation at the Norfolk, which is owned by George Confos, will be finished in late May with the six room accommodation wing to follow three months later.

There’ll be no credit cards handed over the bar to start a tab – The Norfolk will be the first location to trial the new The People app.

Patrons can use the app to pay for everything from in-house food and beverage, to booking their accommodation and even making reservations at other neighbourhood restaurants such is the team’s desire to become interconnected with the suburb.

The recording room and co-working spaces will be perfect for YouTubers and local Tiktokers with high speed internet and cutting edge AV facilities allowing users to get their high quality social media content posted fast.

There is still some work to do at the pub. Picture: Monique Harmer

The hotel will reopen in late May. Picture: Monique Harmer

Mr Taylor said the Norfolk would remain true to its roots while also complementing the changing character of the neighbourhood.

The upper level of the pub has been dubbed “The House” for its relaxed almost residential feel complete with a lounge.

“People will be able to buy a bottle from the wine bar and bring it up. Or book out the boardroom (for) a mini corporate retreat,” Mr Taylor said.

Before: the old pub as you probably remember it. Photo: NSW Real Estate.

The duo believe suburbs like Redfern and Surry Hills benefited from COVID due to people abandoning their CBD centric work lives.

Mr Shulte said the eclectic calendar of events hosted by the pub and the way they planned to activate the spaces would further capitalise on this.

“We don’t just want to do food and booze at these old pubs. We want to have these common areas that link to the rooms or link to the rooftops and provide spaces that are relevant to the local area.”

Andrew Taylor and Paul Shulte

The spruced up Norfolk will be complemented by staff recruited from Redfern and surrounds.

They will be headed up by The People’s group chef Sam Bull who has previously graced the kitchens of Icebergs, North Bondi Italian and the city’s Prince of York.

Drinks at the Norfolk will be overseen by beverage director Tim Philips Johansson who co-owns Circular Quay bar Bulletin Place and Surry Hills restaurant Dead Ringer

The Norfolk’s new look will be swiftly followed by a refurbishment of Alexandria’s Camelia Grove Hotel in late June which is owned by Jon Adgemis.

The facade of the Cleveland St pub won’t change much. Photo: NSW Real estate.

By December the pair will roll out a new look for the Kurrajong Hotel in Erskineville, including a 20 accommodation offering, with the treatment to extend The Exchange Hotels in both Darlinghurst and Balmain in January 2022 all three of which are also owned by Adgemis.

The duo revealed they have also just signed on their first regional pub, The Great Northern Trading Post in the Hunter Valley, and as yet undisclosed venue in Potts Point.