Riverview Tavern prepares for a bright future as renovation process continues

Take a look behind the scenes of a multimillion-dollar transformation of a popular venue featuring one of the best views in Townsville. Here’s what changed.

Riverview Tavern team member Charlie Milner, with a draught Lychee & Lime cocktail. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Riverview Tavern will be almost unrecognisable at the end of a multimillion-dollar transformation currently underway to refine its layout and maintain its place as one of Townsville’s best venues with a water view.

Since its construction in Douglas in the early 2000s, Riverview Tavern has attracted a legion of loyal patrons with its relaxed atmosphere and commanding view of Ross River.

A husband and wife partnership between Reg and Ann Lillywhite, the Lillywhite Hotel Group counts Riverview Tavern in its North Queensland portfolio of six hotels and 11 detached bottle shops.

With five hotel renovations already under his belt, Mr Lillywhite teamed up with his architect to reinvent the venue by expanding outwards and re-orientating its internal layout to ensure it flowed more naturally.

Twelve months after renovations began and a few months from completion, Lillywhite Hotel Group general manager Jamie Bennett said they had kept trading, despite gutting much of the interior.

Inside Riverview Tavern. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“The hotel’s virtually gone about 10m into the carpark. A new gaming room’s been added, a new function room (is under construction), the warehouse has been extended 16m metres to accommodate a 22 pallet freezer room for the group, and the public bar’s gaining 5m internally,” Mr Bennett said.

Jamie Bennett can’t wait to show off the changes at the Riverview Tavern.

“The lounge bar reopened a couple of weeks ago and we’ve seen a lot of new customers popping in to see what it’s like. It’s a good area, it will be good for the community.”

Featuring new furniture, airconditioning, and a wall of windows to capture the stunning scenery, the bistro’s seating capacity has doubled to 80-100 seats.

Inside Riverview Tavern. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The deck area was upgraded with a new third bar, while the two other bars – the lounge and public bars – were ripped out and reorientated against walls, doubling the public bar’s capacity to 80.

Beer lovers will be pleased after the pub’s original 16 beer taps were replaced by 52 new ones, offering 23 different beers and a premium Queensland vodka with lychee and soda.

Inside Riverview Tavern. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“(The new kitchen) is completed. We’re just waiting for a sign-off on some equipment and hopefully in the next week or two that should be up and running,” he said.

Inside Riverview Tavern. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“Our menus always focus on the family. We’ve got nice big share plates going in … and once we get going, our chef is going to start introducing some new offerings, like some good quality steaks.”

Outside, the car park was resurfaced and a double lane drive thru installed – one of the largest in North Queensland.

Inside Riverview Tavern. Picture: Shae Beplate.

A new elevator will boost accessibility for hospital patients who often stay in the upper level’s 12 motel rooms.

With the staff numbers increasing from 30 to over 50 when fully operational, the venue will look to recruit more locals over the coming months.

For more updates, follow Riverview Tavern on Facebook.

Originally published as Riverview Tavern prepares for a bright future as renovation process continues