Comiskey Group reveals plans for family-friendly pub and cellar door at Doonan

A leading Queensland publican has revealed the first glimpse of his family-friendly pub and cellar door coming to the Sunshine Coast hinterland. SEE THE PLANS

A venue where you can kick a footy on the grass outside or feel like you’re sitting in a nursery inside is coming to Doonan as a millionaire pub baron reveals his long-awaited plans.

The Comiskey Group’s Rob Comiskey is finally ready to start construction at The Doonan, a family-friendly pub and cellar door.

The hotel developers purchased the 2ha Eumundi Noosa Road site 15 years ago but the project was stalled during the approval process.

On Friday the developers and Sunshine Coast Council agreed to the almost 90 conditions – allowing construction to start early next year.

Mr Comiskey – who is behind the Eatons Hill and Sandstone Point hotels – said the Doonan project was completely different to anything he had done before.

The $3m to $4m project will feature substantial landscaping work with 2000sq m of gardens and up to 400sq m of outdoor areas where punters can kick a footy or a soccer ball.

The Comiskey Group's Robert Comiskey has released plans for the Doonan family-friendly pub and cellar door that he expects to open late 2023.

There will also be a cellar door showcasing local wines and craft beers and a large playground.

“It’s not a traditional hotel, you’re not going to be sitting in the public bar or in the TAB,” Mr Comiskey said.

“It’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a nursery.

“Our main focus is food and beverage and the cellar door.”

The venue’s capacity will be about 225 people and it will open seven days a week, 10am – 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 10am – 12pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Comiskey Group's Robert Comiskey has released plans for the Doonan family-friendly pub and cellar door that he expects to open late 2023.

The project was refused by Sunshine Coast Council in May 2019 on several grounds including flooding concerns and conflicts with the planning scheme.

But in July this year the Planning and Environment Court overruled the decision.

“The thing that surprised us about the fight was if it was led by a community group you could understand why the council would champion any community reservations about the project, but that’s not true,” Mr Comiskey said.

Comiskey Group’s Rob Comiskey is looking forward to opening his new pub at Doonan. Picture: Renae Droop

“Out of about 200 submissions 95 per cent were all for the hotel.

“There has been overwhelming support from the start.”

Mr Comiskey said they looked forward to delivering the garden-themed, paddock-to-plate style restaurant and bar.

The Comiskey Group's Robert Comiskey has released plans for the Doonan family-friendly pub and cellar door that he expects to open late 2023.

It will take inspiration from The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney and The Farm at Byron Bay.

Mr Comiskey said with fellow company directors, brother David and dad Paul, they had planned the development for about 10 years.

Sunshine Coast businessmen and hotel owners Joshua Jones and Neville Allen, also long-time friends of the Comiskeys, joined the group as business partners for the venture.

Mr Comiskey said they hoped to start construction in January and be completed by the end of 2023.

Originally published as Comiskey Group reveals plans for family-friendly pub and cellar door at Doonan