The Young Group converts Horseshoe Inn at Cambridge into Hollow Tree Cafe

A historic pub has been transformed into a modern cafe and its owner says the local community is “embracing” the change.

An interior view of the Hollow Tree Cafe, which was formerly the Horseshoe Inn at Cambridge. Picture: Linda Higginson

An old colonial pub in the heart of Cambridge has been transformed into a sleek cafe, with the new owner saying the local community is “embracing” the change.

The Horseshoe Inn on Cambridge Rd is now the Hollow Tree Cafe, serving high quality cafe fare “without being fancy or pretentious”.

Trent Young, of property development and construction firm the Young Group, said while he liked pub counter meals “as much as anyone”, customers were “looking for a little bit more and something different these days”.

The owner of Hollow Tree Cafe Trent Young who has transformed the Horseshoe Inn at Cambridge. Picture: Linda Higginson

“All the feedback we’ve had has been really positive. [The locals] are all embracing it, which is great,” he said.

Mr Young also owns the Dunalley Hotel, which reopened last year after being bought by the Young Group.

Hollow Tree Cafe offers everything from egg dishes and breakfast tacos to sandwiches and pastries.

“We’ve tried to keep it simple and [have] a good, comfortable, and relaxed atmosphere. There’s a really nice space outside for kids. It’s very family-friendly,” Mr Young said.

The cafe opened in early December and last week extended its hours to 4pm due to demand.

“We hope to push that out a little bit more on Fridays and Saturdays, in particular, into the evening, potentially,” Mr Young said.

An exterior view of the Hollow Tree cafe, which was formerly the Horseshoe Inn at Cambridge. Picture: Linda Higginson

The Young Group is gradually assembling a new hospitality empire and is looking to further expand.

“Within our property development business, lots of opportunities crop up for complementary hospitality offerings within some of the projects so it makes sense for us to pursue doing some of those ourselves rather than wanting someone else to do it,” Mr Young said.

The Hollow Tree Cafe is open from 6am-4pm on weekdays, 7am-4pm on Saturdays, and 7am-3pm on Sundays. It’s located at 860 Cambridge Rd.