Over $500,000 has been spent updating the Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel with more to come

Perched atop Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island, this hotel is widely regarded as having one of the best views of any pub in Australia and owners hope a $500k reno will make it better.

Not even arguably Queensland’s most famous island watering hole can escape the shifting sands from Brisbane’s rapidly rising tide of brewpubs.

In the face of changing drinking trends and increased competition, the Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel — or “Straddie” as it is still affectionately known — is reinventing itself.

It has recently undergone a $500,000 makeover and more changes are planned.

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Owned by Gold Coast developer Bob Hill, the original hotel underwent a $20 million rebuild about a decade ago.

The latest refurbishment will continue to November and so far has included upgrades to its popular Waves bar, bistro, conference/function and wedding facilities. Its next stage involves a planned revamp of its accommodation.

On the deck of the Straddie Hotel. Picture: Jono Searle

Perched atop Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island, the hotel is widely regarded as having one of the best views of any pub in Australia.

But despite its geographic isolation across the waters of Moreton Bay, like a lot of traditional pubs on the mainland it is feeling the impact of southeast Queensland’s thriving craft brewery scene.

“It has definitely impacted,” said the Straddie’s business manager, Mark Jones.

“The craft beer market is massive.”

Mark Jones at the Straddie Hotel. Picture: Jono Searle

He said the hotel offered a range of craft beers on tap — including beers from locally-based independent brewers — as well as a “beer of the month”.

“You’ve got to jump on the wagon and adapt or be left behind,” Mr Jones said. “People want change and they want choice and it’s important you offer that.

“Instead of six beers we’ve now got a dozen or more different beers on tap. That’s becoming the norm when you go to a pub these days.”

Exterior of Straddie Hotel. Picture: Jono Searle

But Mr Jones said there was more to running a successful hotel like the Straddie than putting craft beers on tap.

“We’re a destination pub,” he said. “It’s sort of iconic and the view from the deck is postcard stuff.

“So we continue to offer that Straddie beach pub experience. To do anything else you’d be forfeiting a lot of the history that’s already here.

“But you’ve still got to keep evolving and that’s why we’ve done what we’ve done — to keep it on trend, keep offering the services that people expect now.”

Originally published as Over $500,000 has been spent updating the Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel with more to come