Matt Moran swings open The Rockley Pub this week, joining a party of venue launches in NSW's Central West that last week saw Printhie Dining open near Orange, with ex-Berowra Waters Inn chef Jack Brown in the kitchen.

While the chef-restaurateur's pub project isn't finished – longer-term plans include a 90-seat restaurant, upgraded accommodation and bakery – from Thursday you can pop in for a beer and a counter meal.

Parmesan-crumbed chicken schnitty, dry-aged sirloin and a ploughman's plate with Moran's own salami are on an opening menu that leans on local produce and the nearby Moran Family Farm, along with some meat from Cowra.

"This is going to be a project that I will work on for years to come," Moran says.

"I'm excited to reopen the pub for the locals of Rockley and the region. This is just the start of our plans for The Rockley Pub over the next few months."

So that locals can really relax, a bus service from Bathurst ($10) will be introduced at the end of March.

Open Thu-Sun noon-late.

2 Budden Street, Rockley, therockleypub.com.au