Restaurants, gin distillery part of multimillion-dollar Mt Coot-tha upgrade

Multimillion-dollar changes are proposed for one of Brisbane tourism’s most popular locations, the 226-metre-high Mt Coot-tha Summit above the city.

Hospitality firm Mantle Group proposes a major transformation of the old Summit restaurant – which has remained closed since 2019 – the nearby café, and the viewing precinct.

Major changes are proposed to the Mt Coot-tha Summit precinct, which attracts 1.5 million visitors each year. Credit: The Mantle Group

Plans have finally been lodged with Brisbane City Council for the proposed redevelopment, which include a gin distillery.

“What we are proposing is transformational and presents The Summit as an iconic and exciting site for locals and visitors to Brisbane,” Mantle Group owner Godfrey Mantle said in a statement on Saturday.

Mantle Group plans to change the existing café into a two-level dining facility – named The Pavilion – where the ground floor would house the gin distillery and dining room.

Upstairs will be a rooftop garden, which will be augmented by a herb and food garden, inspired by Greater Brisbane’s First Nations culture.

The existing Mt Coot-than Summit restaurant will have a large deck added and a small theatre where local historical stories will be screened.Credit: The Mantle Group

Separately, the older heritage restaurant will be modernised.

A new deck will be built onto the heritage-listed restaurant.

“The large fig tree at the rear will be a key feature, offering dining under the illuminated tree, while the ground floor of the restaurant will be transformed into a theatre, depicting the culture and history of the Mt Coot-tha traditional Indigenous owners,” Mantle Group owner Godfrey Mantle said.

“Both the restaurant and the café are in dire need of significant work plus we want to optimise the venues to take advantage of the spectacular views.

“The amenities will be completely renovated and we’ll landscape the surrounds to create a more appealing environment.”

Mantle Group’s plans for the Summit were first revealed in November 2019, when Mantle proposed making better use of the views from the café and the original restaurant.

“I think people will be delighted with what we’re proposing; I think for locals [it will be] somewhere they’ll really enjoy coming to, we’re very much focused on the locals,” Mantle said in November 2019.

Drawings linked to the redevelopment plans show a more open viewing area, including a bottle tree and open-air seating for visitors.

The Mt Coot-tha Summit now attracts 1.5 million visitors each year and has become the centre of a network of walking trails on Mt Coot-tha.

The development is timed to upgrade an important part of Brisbane’s tourism offerings in the lead up to the 2032 Games in Greater Brisbane, Mantle said.

“Ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games the precinct’s revitalisation will help restore vitality to key iconic landmark and celebrate Brisbane’s natural environment, cultural values and enviable lifestyle.”

The reconstruction of Mt Coot-tha Summit will take about seven months after it is approved by Brisbane City Council.

The Mantle Group plans to reopen the new businesses in the first half of 2024.

Mt Coot-tha Parklands were established in 1933 and is state-owned land, leased to Council under a deed of grant.

Council now subleases the site to the Mantle Group who operate the Summit Restaurant and café.