ON THE BEACH

Surfing royalty names such as Simon Anderson and Shaun Tomson brought their dates and local fire brigade crews regularly visited. The McWilliam’s Wines family were almost weekly customers along with families, couples and politicians.

Taffy’s on the Beach was just one of those places, for not only the best food, but the hippest waitresses in miniskirts, and fun, fabulous times in town.

Geoff’s early career was with Qantas Cabin Crew where he met his eventual business partner Rob Forsyth.

The Qantas crew would often be seen at the amazing upstairs cocktail bar, where it would become so busy, the Qantas crew would jump in and lend a hand, mixing the world-renowned frozen Mango Daiquiris, Strawberry Chi Chi’s and Pina Coladas. Out of town New Yorkers relished the Manhattans, Cosmopolitan and Martini’s.

Taffy’s first restaurant on The Corso in Manly was known as Taffy’s Beefhouse. Taffy’s on the Beach soon took the mantel for their legendary seafood as the amazing drawcard.

The empire kept growing to include Taffy’s at the Junction, Neutral Bay and Taffy’s Anchorage at Akuna Bay, with then Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, officially opening the venue.

Taffy further expanded the business with Pittwater Seafoods on Pittwater

Road, Manly, supplying the finest local establishments with daily fresh seafood including his take-away venues next door to the beachfront venue and in Manly Vale.

The fame all started in Manly with twelve tables on the beachfront between the Hotel Steyne and the then Manly Pacific Hotel, now the Novotel Manly Beach. Taffy lived upstairs with wife Suellen whose recipes for the Seafood Bouillabaisse and Taramasalata became cult favourites.

Taffy’s introduced the ‘Salad Bar‘ to Australia where you could serve yourself an array of fresh rolls and salad on both levels of the restaurant.

The staff from these days, still connect and enjoy yearly get-togethers. With so much fun and the friendliest vibe, the restaurant chain eventually sold in the mid 1980’s to local investors.

Geoff ‘Taffy’ Thomas is survived by his children Mitchell, Bryn and Mack who farewelled their father quietly along with Taffy’s former wife, Suellen, friends and family recently at the RMYC Newport.

As with all celebrations of life, many stories are told and memories shared.

Farewell Taffy! Local Legend –we will miss you. •