Pub’s play for families
Torquay Hotel ditches holiday-makers for locals in upgrade plans
TORQUAY Hotel’s new owners say they want to create a “family-friendly” pub, as their plans for a $750,000 redevelopment of the venue are unveiled.
The proposed upgrade would create new dining and alfresco areas, smoking spaces and extra administration room at the hotel.
The Bell St venue was bought by last year by the Tay- lor family’s TTHL Ltd, which also owns the Grovedale and Barwon Heads hotels.
In plans lodged with the Surf Coast Shire, the Taylors reveal they will focus more on catering to locals as they try to create an atmosphere similar to their other venues.
“This approach varies from the previous operation of the venue, which specifically targeted holiday-makers,” the application reads.
“(That approach) presented live bands in a large beer-hall atmosphere, which was problematic from time to time.”
The Geelong Advertiser revealed in March that the proposed upgrade was linked to an increase in the number of poker machines allowed at the hotel.
An application has been lodged with the state’s gambling regulator to lift the capacity of the hotel’s gaming room from 30 to 45 machines.
A hearing was held in early June but the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation is still to release its decision on the application.
In documents lodged with the commission, Mr Taylor warned that the proposed capital works were conditional on introducing the extra pokies.
“Without the gaming revenue, the redevelopment and proposed community contributions will not be provided,” he said.
The plans show the first stage of works would infill an existing veranda and alfresco area adjacent the Bell Street frontage. It would extend the current dining area and create a new alfresco / smoking space.
The redevelopment would also enclose an existing veranda and create a new bistro terrace, additional administration and office space.
A new alfresco / smoking area would also be accessible from the existing gaming area.
“This approach varies from the previous operation of the venue, which specifically targeted holiday-makers.”