Yeppoon cafe Beachside 66 reopens with fresh menu after roofing disaster

After being closed for five long months due to unexpected construction work, the owners of a Capricorn Coast business are back with a fresh menu and ideas.

Vanessa Jarrett

2 min read

January 24, 2023 - 4:00AM

Samantha Ambridge is excited her business Beachside 66 has reopened.

Business

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After five long months of unexpected construction work, Yeppoon’s fish and chip eatery Beachside 66 is finally back open.

The roof had been leaking for some time and in August last year, trades began work to replace it – but it didn’t go to plan.

On August 18, early in the morning, hand tools fell through the ceiling and crow bars and hammers landed in the kitchen and behind the counter.

Thankfully, no staff were standing in the area at the time and no injuries were sustained.

But, it did mean asbestos had been disturbed and everyone had to get out immediately – including the hairdressers next door.

“(It was) down tools now, don’t touch anything … everything had to be tested,” Samantha Ambridge, who owns the business alongside her husband Billy Boyle, recalled.

Samantha said it was two months before they were allowed back in following the asbestos decontamination.

The repairs were finally completed the week before Christmas but they decided to wait until the New Year to open, given it would have been hard to find staff over the holidays.

It has been a long five months with no income from the business and the couple had to rely on Samantha’s income.

“It’s been incredibly hard and stressful … Christmas was quite sparse this year, hopefully we will be able to bounce back quite soon,” Samantha said.

“We are insured but with the floods everywhere, insurance companies are overwhelmed at the moment so it’s very slow.”

The incident was investigated by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland at the time which advised that the roofing business was issued with infringement notices for “failing to manage the risk of falling from height”.

Onwards and upwards, the business reopened on January 10.

“We have been really lucky, nine of our team have come back to us, having gone to other jobs and having been there for five months,” Samantha said.

“Our first weekend of opening, so many of our regulars have come back and are really pleased we are back open.

“It’s really encouraging that we have been missed.”

Starting the year off with a bang, they have new specials and home made dinners from roasts, curries and pastas to oven dishes that can easily be reheated.

“We are pushing the new menu, trying to have more fresh meals here so there are more options for people at this end of Yeppoon,” Samantha said.

“Our chef has been preparing salads and dinners to be reheated.”

The classic breakfast menu will be back in a few weeks.

“We are just getting going first, trying to get some money into the business before we start getting back to where we want to be.”