BEERS FLOW AGAIN AT BELOVED TWEED VALLEY PUB
TYALGUM Hotel’s taps are finally flowing once again after the muchloved pub reopened its doors following the village being cut off by flooding and landslides in the 2022 floods.
New co-owner Bob East said the reopening of the venue was special for the community.
“This is a community that seems to work together, so we don’t view the people who have operations up the road as competitors,” he said.
“A lot of the businesses in this region have done it really tough and the more we can promote together, get behind major events and small events and functions, that is the type of thing that makes this community really work.”
Tyalgum Hotel has undergone a complete refurbishment, including the downstairs area, a new cosy “snug room” with fireplace, bistro area and a beer garden.
The pub has increased its kitchen size, allowing more varied meals to be served to patrons.
The hotel‘s swimming pool has also reopened in time for the second half of summer.
Meanwhile, the hotel boasts 13 new refurbished rooms keeping with the hotel’s country hospitality theme.
Discover Tyalgum business founder Brad Sims said there was a social and economic advantage to the popular pub being open
“The road slip has really damaged the businesses here, but the pub being closed as well doubled the damage,” he said.
Tyalgum General Store manager Rebel Mcgregor-Reid said she was excited to see the pub back in business, but had her sights on Tyalgum Rd reopening.
She said it would be a relief for residents and result in more tourists coming to the village.
“It takes so much longer to get supplies, to get to work, to take children to school, people are hesitant to come out here because they think (Tyalgum Rd) is all there is,” she said.
Ms Mcgregor-Reid said that people could still visit the town via a more scenic route through the township of Chillingham.
“As soon as people start to come out here and see what we have and realise it is a beautiful drive … the town will thrive again,” she said.
Next, the hotel is set to include a kid‘s playground in the second stage of the refurbishment, Mr East was about the cost of the sweeping refurbishment: “We’ve injected more (money) than we anticipated originally. There has been quite a few $100,000s and many more going in … we think this destination deserves it,” he said.
Flutterbies Cottage Cafe floor manager Haniel Medinet said the landslide and pub closure was like a double whammy to the town.
“We’re relieved”, she said.
“… we get the Queensland visitors coming back and a place for them to stay and a beautiful upgrade to what the pub was.”
However, repairs to Tyalgum Rd are still in limbo for the time being as Tweed Shire Council searches for a business to take on the job.
Tweed Shire Council general manager Troy Green said it would likely be at least two months until the community could be advised of a successful applicant before work starts.