Toowoomba couple’s grand plans for historic pub
WANDERING through the run-down rooms and bars of the Metropole Hotel, Toowoomba couple Kosta and Jasmine Theodosis can see the ageing pub’s potential.
Toowoomba
Don't miss out on the headlines from Toowoomba. Followed categories will be added to My News.
WANDERING through the run-down rooms and bars of the Metropole Hotel, Toowoomba couple Kosta and Jasmine Theodosis can see the ageing pub's potential.
That's why they bought it.
The old watering hole, which has served as the site of various public houses since 1864, is about to be brought into the 21st century.
While retaining its vintage character, the Theodosis' have two major aims for the Metropole's resurrection.
"We kind of want to give it a full overhaul and get it back up and running as a full hotel with the restaurant, accommodation upstairs, and the bar," Mr Theodosis said.
"The fact there's a real lack of budget accommodation in the city, that's kind of a big focus for us as well."
The second aim is to cement the pub's name as a live music venue - a given considering Mr Theodosis' drumming career, which has seen him play alongside names such as Robbie Williams, Chet Faker, Amy Shark, and more.
"We want to have a really good live music element as well … that's going to be a big part of the whole vibe of the place. We've got a heap of great local musos in Toowoomba and we certainly want to keep a lot of them employed."
But before that happens, there's a lot of work to do.
Mr Theodosis remembers playing in the hotel's old dining room - one of the first gigs his high school band performed.
"Even at the time it was a bit run-down," he said.
"It's a building that's been under-utilised for decades now, so we're super pumped. We see the potential in it and bringing it back to something that it's probably never even been in the last 50 years."
The couple reckon it'll take about six months to get the hotel fully renovated and up and running.
"We don't want to take any shortcuts and I want to be proud of the finished product," Mr Theodosis said.
"As is we love the building. It just needs a massive freshen-up and an overhaul."
The Theodosis' said despite only recently purchasing the pub, they'd already received "heaps of support" from local publicans.
As for a new name for the venue - they're open to suggestions.