There are high hopes a revamped century-old pub will breathe new life into the heart of a Sunshine Coast town.
The iconic venue, on the corner of Currie and Mill Streets in Nambour, will be reopened as Club Hotel Namba on December 30.
The men behind the venture – co-directors Josh Allen and Paul Harley, and venue manager Mark Lean – expected the pub’s fresh look and family friendly vibe to resonate with locals and visitors, and influence the CBD in general.
“We hope to bring something to Nambour that the people can get behind,” Mr Allen said.
“Nambour was once a hustling and bustling entertainment precinct and there’s a big push to bring that back and get exposure to the area, which has so much to give.
“We find ourselves responsible for helping that happen.”
Mr Allen said the pub could “start something great” in the town.
“Hopefully, others will also see the potential of Nambour and flock back to the area,” he said.
Mr Allen said the region’s demographic was changing, with “lots of families moving to the area during the past six to 12 months”, and their business venture could bolster the town.
“I think there is a stigma attached to Nambour that it doesn’t deserve,” he said
“We’re looking to desensitise people from past experiences they may have had in Nambour.
“We are in this to provide something for the community, and I think Nambour is long overdue for something like this.”
Mr Allen said the venue would be a great location to drink, eat and play, particularly for families.
“It’s got a bit of everything. It’s a pub but it’s also a restaurant and a club for live music,” he said.
The building upgrade included a repainting of the exterior and much of the interior. The floor had a makeover, including the addition of polished cypress pine.
There is a new-look dining/restaurant area and kitchen, bar, landscaped gardens and a unique laneway.
“We’re going to turn that into a Melbourne-like alleyway with festoon lighting and street art, so it is a cool place to hang out,” Mr Allen said.
The lighting and audio were redone and there are seven big-screen televisions and a kids room with plenty of activities.
“There’s also a massive car park next to the pub, which is free on weekends and after 4pm on weekdays, for prime dinner time,” Mr Allen said.
There’s a strong emphasis on affordable meals and the venue was expected to provide a much-needed dining option for families.
“There aren’t many places for them to go to, apart from the RSL and the odd cafe, that are affordable,” Mr Allen said.
“We don’t want to charge $35 to $40 for steak and chips, and through our experience and networks we’ve got good pricing.
“It will be very affordable for families to come in and they can feel safe and comfortable.”
There were plans for accommodation “eventually”, but not for gaming.
“We’re quite proud of that,” Mr Allen said.
“Pokies and gaming machines aren’t really the type of things we want to promote.”
The strong focus on entertainment is expected to involve local talent.
“We want to bring some creative flair and events to the venue, including a street fair along Mill Street …. and we want to showcase local performing arts, in front of a community that seems to be crying out for it,” Mr Allen said.
He said they weren’t necessarily competing with neighbouring The Royal George, or the local diners/cafes.
“Next door is more of a typical pub and we’re not trying to emulate that,” he said.
“We feel like we’re in it together with them, trying to bring people back to the area.
“And we think people should have dining options.”
Mr Allen also said they would be heavily involved with community events and groups, including sports teams.
Mr Allen said the anonymous owner of the property and old building was passionate about boosting the venue and enlivening the local community.
Mr Allen and Mr Harley are the owners of the business.
The former has a background in events and marketing, while the latter has run pubs around Australia for almost four decades and his experience with craft beer was expected to lead to great local flavours being included at the venue.
Meanwhile, manager Mr Lean has been involved in hospitality for most of his career and he has employed “great local chefs, bar staff and wait staff” as part of an initial eight-member staff, which was expected to grow in the new year.
Ode to the past
No. 80 Currie Street has a storied history.
It was established as the timber-made Residential Hotel in 1912, before a licensed pub opened there and was renamed the Club Hotel in 1914.
It caught fire in 1938 and was essentially rebuilt with brick and concrete.
The venue was owned, managed and renovated by multiple parties, including Castlemaine Perkins Limited, during the years, and it became an iconic hub for workers and families to gather.
Huge gatherings were held there after football games in the 1970s, when the Nambour All Whites and their supporters rallied to the Club Hotel Nambour on the north side of Mill Street, while rivals Nambour Souths and their fans partied at The Royal George on the south side.
A beer hall, Stalwart Ale House and Brewery, opened there in 2020 but closed last year, mainly due to COVID.
Now, the venue is ready for a new era, but its history can still be seen there.
The pivotal years of 1912 (the pub’s opening) and 1938 (the rebuild) are featured on the facade and there were charming nods to the past within.
“We are definitely paying homage to the venue’s history,” Mr Allen said.
“She is an old girl and we’ve honoured her with the decor and the fit-out inside.
“It has been around since 1912 and we want to keep it around for another 100 years.”
The venue’s name itself pays tribute to the indigenous heritage in the area. ‘Namba’ is the traditional word for the area.
The venue will open on Friday, December 30, and a New Year’s Eve party will be held on Saturday, December 31. It will then open its doors in earnest from January 4, with hours of 11am until late.
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