Patrons loving new-look Spotted Cow on reopening day in Toowoomba CBD

After months of anticipation and an expensive facelift, the Spotted Cow has finally reopened to the public. Here’s what patrons and staff had to say:

Watson Blaikie serves meals in the Spotted Cow. Saturday. 5th Dec 2020

Patrons and guests at the new-look Spotted Cow have given the venue’s new owners a resounding thumbs-up, after it reopened this week.

The classic pub, which was bought by Hallmark Group earlier this year and redeveloped for $1.5 million, enjoyed a VIP opening on Friday night before the doors opened to the public yesterday.

Waiter Watson Blaikie said the reception to the changes, which were mainly cosmetic to update the look of the venue, had been positive.

“(The opening) went really well and they seem to really enjoy it,” he said.

“The building outside and inside has all been redone, even the menus are made with real leather.

“Little things like that make the place unique.”

Hotel manager Jabin Pirlo said returning patrons were relieved to see the Spotted Cow had not lost its charm.

“We’ve had some faces coming to check it out — there have been some people today who used to come here before it closed,” he said.

“(The most positive comments were for) the fit-out and the finish on everything, the attention to detail.

“There’s nothing really structural that’s changed, so they like that.

“We had a bloke here this morning who was taking a photo of the new logo on the wall and he used to drink here.”

(From left ) Sandy Bartlett, Jo Craig-Havern and Helen Bland.

Helen Bland, who enjoyed a meal with her friends at lunch, said she was impressed by the renovation’s adherence to the previous layout.

“My son was always worried the atmosphere would be gone after the refurb, but having that front bar still there is great,” she said.

The pub’s menu has been boosted by the addition of head chef Linton Smith, who used to manage the kitchen at the Norman Hotel.

The restaurant also includes a floating grill and a dry-ageing cabinet for the beef.