SINGO’S RAILWAY HOTEL: GOSFORD’S LATEST HOT SPOT

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Rumoured to serve up the best steak on the Coast, Gosford’s new Railway Hotel is very quickly making a name for itself.

WORDS JESS VERRENDER

Replacing The Bon Pavilion restaurant on Mann Street, John Singleton’s latest Central Coast venture is set below his Bonython apartment tower in the heart of Gosford. While the famous spiral staircase remains in the restaurant, the new setting has been totally transformed. Down-to-earth with a sophisticated edge, the space was created by interior design gurus loopcreative, headed up by Rod Faucheux. Involved in a myriad of successful projects that include the new Victor Churchill in Melbourne and Woodcut Restaurant at the Crown Sydney, Barangaroo, the loopcreative team has given new life to the old Bon Pavilion, designing a venue that blends the best of Australian history with contemporary flair and good old-fashioned service. When asked about inspiration, including the name change, the John Singleton Group explains. “The railway boom of the 19th century united Australia and at the height of this economic boom, nearly every town had a railway hotel – originally a place for travellers to rest and refuel after long and weary journeys across the country,” they said. “In true Aussie style, these railway hotels morphed into a place for people to gather, becoming the beating heart of Australian communities. This simple philosophy inspired us to create a venue where the old meets the new in the heart of Gosford.” Offering weekly hotel happy hours, weekend live music, Sunday roasts and even a dedicated seniors’ section on the menu, the Railway Hotel provides a thoughtfully curated menu designed by head chef Brad Bates. The restaurant specialises in cooking with open flame on a huge custom-made chargrill. It creates an authentic smoky charcoal flavour, while locking in the juices of the meat and making it even more tender. Dishes include fine cuts of succulent meat, juicy burgers, slow-cooked ribs and reimagined pub classics like the Surf ’n’ Turf, made with tempura prawns, zingy lemon and pepper squid, Jack’s Creek New York strip, crisp salad, shoestring fries and your choice of sauce (yes please). The Railway Hotel has partnered with local suppliers to source fresh, seasonal produce, promising paddock to plate through their quality cuts of meat with premium beef sourced from Tamworth-based Jack’s Creek, who took home three gold medals last year in the ‘World’s Best Steak’ competition. On top of this, the venue features a massive 2.5-metre wide x 4.5-metre high LED TV screen (apparently the biggest on the Coast) and the enormous bar includes 20 tap beers, an extensive wine list and delicious cocktails. Happy hour is every Monday to Friday, from 2.30pm to 5.30pm, when tap beers, house wines and bubbles are just $5 and cocktails $12. On Sundays, exquisite Jack’s Creek MS4+ rump cap, garlic, and rosemary potatoes, sauteed veggies, Yorkshire pudding and beef gravy are available for $29 for lunch or dinner. The new Railway Hotel, 159 Mann Street, Gosford, is open seven days a week. Follow their Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and events.

WHAT’S TO COME IN SINGO’S WORLD

With the Railway Hotel’s refurbishment now complete, multi-millionaire advertising mogul John Singleton will continue on his mission to build up the Central Coast, turning his attention towards a new luxury hotel development near his home in Mount White. Having owned his rustic restaurant-bakehouse Saddles at Mount White for almost four years, Singo has since acquired another site across the road, with plans to create a new upscale venue for the Coast. Earlier this year he told The Daily Telegraph that his new development plans would include a “10-star” restaurant and boutique hotel with 20 rooms. In the New Year, the group will be opening a nursery onsite as part of a collaboration with the well-known Burbank Nurseries group. It is set to further transform Mount White, making it into a key destination for Central Coast residents and Sydney visitors. John Singleton has been a long-term advocate for the Central Coast, investing in multiple prestigious projects over the years including restaurants, pubs and luxury apartment developments. His first investment in the region was with Bells at Killcare in 2006, which has since gone on to become a premier accommodation hotspot for the area. Since then, he has been involved in a number of award-winning projects including Pretty Beach House, the beloved 'Elly' Elanora Hotel in East Gosford, the stunning Ravello Residences in Point Frederick and Gosford’s Bonython Tower, which offers luxury apartments above the newly refurbished Railway Hotel.