MEGA ONLINE RAFFLE
Welcome to the first edition of Hospitality Highlights, the members’ newsletter for Cessnock Hospitality Group.
CHG’s original venue Cessnock Leagues Club is closing in on its 44th anniversary, with some exciting new developments aimed at providing members with the most up-to-date facilities on the club scene. Members have been provided with the plans that reveal major upgrades to facilities in all areas of the club’s operation. The board and management have combined to take the club forward, maintaining its position as one of the leaders on the Hunter club scene.
The plans put its membership first so they can enjoy the very latest in comfort with food and beverage offerings and with activities and its reach into the community.
While our membership comes first, CHG is proud of its commitment to the community with a wide range of financial help through our ClubGRANTS program, helping many local organisations with funding so they can continue their valuable work. In the 2023/24 year an amount of $231,587 was donated across 49 local charities, community groups and sporting clubs.
I can assure members their club is in good hands with a hard-working board and outstanding management.
Bruce Wilson OAM President Cessnock Hospitality Group
Our vision for the future
Redevelopment plans revealed
Cessnock Hospitality Group (the Group) is excited to announce its plans for a major redevelopment of the Cessnock Leagues Club, which will transform the venue into a modern and vibrant destination for entertainment, dining, and socialising. This project will provide the Club with expanded services and facilities that will cater for the growing needs and expectations of our members, as well as the wider Cessnock community.
The proposed redevelopment of Cessnock Leagues Club is the result of extensive demographic and market research conducted by the Group, which revealed the potential for significant growth in Cessnock and the surround suburbs over the next decade or so. According to the research, the population of our market catchment (Cessnock and surrounding suburbs) is projected to increase by +49% by 2041, reaching over 58,000 residents. This will create a higher demand for quality hospitality and leisure services in the region, as well as more employment opportunities.
The design process for the project commenced with the Group engaging two leading architectural firms to participate in a design competition. Both firms presented impressive and innovative concepts, but ALTIS Architecture were successful and were awarded the project, based on several criteria. Some of the key features of ALTIS’ design that impressed the Group were:
- Their utilisation of the northern aspect of the site with expansive outdoor spaces, which will allow for natural light and ventilation, as well as creating a pleasant and inviting atmosphere for patrons.
- How the design identifies with the local region and how it delivers a welcoming street presence through simple architecture, open spaces, and landscaped vegetation,
- The affordability and buildability of the overall design, which will enable the Group to deliver the project within a reasonable budget and timeframe, while minimising disruption to the existing operations of the Club.
The proposed redevelopment will significantly enhance the Club’s services and facilities, including:
- The existing Entice Bistro & Café will be relocated and expanded to offer indoor and outdoor seating for up to 240 diners, as well as providing more choice to members with the addition of wood-fired pizzas and a gelato bar.
- An expansion to the Club’s main lounge and sports bar, which will feature new furnishings, lighting, and audio-visual equipment, as well as more screens for viewing live sporting events and race meetings. The main lounge will also have direct access to the outdoor area, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience.
- A new children’s playground will accommodate more open space for parents to supervise their children, while the addition of a new parent’s room and restrooms adjacent to the playground will make the Club more appealing to families.
- An additional 58 car parking spaces will be added to the Club’s car park for the convenience of members.
The Group has been working closely with the Council and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the project meets all the planning and environmental requirements and standards. The development application for the project was submitted to council on 12 July.
- An increase in the Club’s seating capacity from 700 seats to almost 1,400 seats, which will provide more space and comfort for our members, as well as allowing for larger functions and events.
- The addition of over 1,700 square metres of outdoor space, which will include landscaped gardens, alfresco dining areas, a new courtyard and an outdoor stage for live music and entertainment.
- A significant expansion to the Club’s dining facilities, including the introduction of a new 150-seat restaurant, which will accommodate the relocation of the Group’s Vincent Street Kitchen + Bar operations offering a contemporary food and beverage offer in a modern and warm environment.
Pending DA approval, work is expected to commence by the end of 2024 and be fully completed around early 2026. The Group will ensure that the construction process will cause minimal disruption and inconvenience to Members, and that the Club will remain operational throughout the duration of the project. The Group will also provide regular updates and progress reports on the project via this newsletter, website and social media channels.
The Group is excited and proud to embark on this ambitious and visionary project, which will secure the future of the Cessnock Leagues Club for many years to come. The Group thanks all members for their continued support and loyalty, and looks forward to welcoming them to our new and improved Club once the project is completed.
PAUL COUSINS CEO, Cessnock Hospitality Group
Stay up-to-date with the progress of the redevelopment project at www.CessnockLeagues.com.au/Redevelopment.
Giving back to our community
Hub provides a safe place for vulnerable people
With a fresh coat of paint and a new lease on life, Cessnock’s former St Vincent de Paul cottage is now home to the Spirit of Giving Fundraising Hub.
Located at 6A Cumberland Street, the Hub was founded to provide an outreach service for local people in need, and to formalise fundraising activity for the Cessnock Christian Christmas Day Luncheon (which is held annually at Cessnock Uniting Church’s Wesley Hall).
With laundry facilities on offer five days a week, and showers and toilets soon to come, it is a place that provides a warm and safe environment for a chat, a cup of tea and a friendly face – something that is greatly needed in the Cessnock community.
The installation of the showers and toilets was made possible after Spirit of Giving received a $5634 grant from Cessnock Leagues Club’s 2024 ClubGRANTS program. It was also a beneficiary of last year’s ClubGRANTS fund, with $9908 going towards internal and external electrical and security systems at the cottage.
Spirit of Giving founders Rob and Helen Dyball said they would like to thank Cessnock Hospitality Group for its generous support.
“This will enable us to provide an outreach service to the needy, lonely and homeless – the forgotten members of our community – and to address the welfare needs of each recipient with dignity, self-respect and ensuring confidentiality and privacy is maintained at all times,” Mr and Mrs Dyball said.
Spirit of Giving was one of 18 recipients that received a share of $80,544 in funding from Cessnock Leagues Club’s 2024 ClubGRANTS Program, which funds projects, services and programs that benefit the local community, such as welfare and social services, community development, health services and employment assistance.
“Cessnock Hospitality Group is well aware of the hardships facing many in the community with increases in the cost of living,” CHG president Bruce Wilson said.
“In making allocations to various charities it looks at those who can make a difference for those in need. I am sure our recipients will put the funds to good use to make our community much stronger.”
Applications for the 2025 ClubGRANTS program will open on February 1. Meanwhile, applications for Cessnock Leagues Club’s community support funds – including the Cessnock Rural Fire Service Fund, Cessnock Schools Education Fund and Sports & Community Groups Fund – are open year-round, with grants allocated quarterly.
For more information and to apply for these funds, visit www.cessnockleagues.com.au/the-club/community-support.
For more information about the Spirit of Giving Fundraising Hub, or to donate directly, visit https://spiritofgiving.com.au.
CLUBGRANTS
• Hunter Food Relief Centre
• Cessnock City Library
• Girls Who Roar
• Top Blokes Foundation
• The Rotary Club of Cessnock
• Prostate Survival Alliance
• We Care Connect
• Spirit of Giving Fundraising Hub
• Road Safety Education
• Little Wings
• Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Service
• Cessnock City Council – Hobby to Microbusiness program
• Inspiring Hope
• Mark Hughes Foundation
• Life Education NSW
• Carrie’s Place Domestic Violence & Homelessness Services
• Newcastle Rugby League
• Family of League Foundation
• Cessnock City Council – Mayoral Scholarship program
CESSNOCK SCHOOLS EDUCATION FUND
• Mount View High School
• Cessnock High School
• Congewai Public School
• Cessnock Public School
• St Patrick’s Primary School Cessnock
• Ellalong Public School
• Paxton Public School
• Kearsley Public School
Find out more about our Community Support programs at cessnockleagues.com.au/the-club/community-support
*The ClubGRANTS funding year runs from September 2023 to August 2024.
SPORTS & COMMUNITY GROUPS FUND
• Cessnock Family Support Service
• Cessnock RSL – ANZAC Day
• Coalfields United Amateur Swimming Club
• Commando Welfare Trust
• The Vintage Junior Golf
• UBU Sports Aerobics & Fitness
• Abermain Eisteddfod Society
• Wine Country Cricket Club
• Cessnock Community Garden
• The Rotary Club of Cessnock
CESSNOCK RURAL FIRE SERVICE FUND
• Central Rural Fire Brigade
• Greta Rural Fire Brigade
SPORTING CLUB SPONSORSHIP
• Cessnock Goannas Rugby League Football Club
• Cessnock Minor Rugby League
• Cessnock City Hornets FC
• Cessnock District Netball Association
• Cessnock Basketball Association
• Cessnock District Hockey Association
• Cessnock Supporters Cricket Club
EVENT SPONSORSHIP
• Cessnock Stomp Festival
• Cessnock Customer Service Awards
• Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix
• Cessnock City Seniors Festival
• Cessnock Show
TOTAL DONATIONS Funds and in-kind support
$231,587
Spirit of Giving Fundraising Hub founders Helen and Robert Dyball with Cessnock Hospitality Group president Bruce Wilson (centre) outside the hub in Cumberland Street.
MONDAY
Bingo 10:45am
$5 Kids’ Meals
TUESDAY Trivia 7pm
$16 Schnitzel Special
WEDNESDAY
Bingo 10:45am
$15 Burger Special DJ Bingo 7pm
THURSDAY $19 Rump Special Meat raffle 5:30pm
SATURDAY Live music 8pm-11pm FRIDAY Variety raffle 5:30pm Live music 8pm-11pm
CLUB OPEN FROM 10AM DAILY
BISTRO OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAY A WEEK COURTESY BUS FROM 5PM FRI-SAT-SUN 1 Darwlin, Cessnock | (02) 4993 2655 | cessnockleagues.com.au
SUNDAY Variety raffle 11:30am Last Sunday of the month: Members’ promotion 5pm,
SCHOOL HOLIDAY REPTILES ON THE GO Thursday 10th October 11am Tickets $10pp
MONDAY Poker 6pm
WEDNESDAY Trivia 7pm
FRIDAY & SATURDAY Live music 8pm-11pm
THURSDAY Meat raffle 6:30pm SUNDAY Poker 3pm MARGS & TACOS $29 Wednesday - Sunday Lunch and Dinner
CLUB OPEN FROM 11:30AM DAILY BISTRO OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER WED-SUN COURTESY BUS FROM 5PM FRI-SAT 201 Vincent St., Cessnock | (02) 4005 6766 | vincentstreet.com.au
WEDNESDAY Club open from 12pm THURSDAY $19 rump night Joker poker 6pm and 7pm
FRIDAY $16 schnitzel night Raffle 7pm SATURDAY Trivia 6:30pm LADIES BOWLS Tuesday MENS BOWLS Wednesday Inquire within SUNDAY Raffle 7pm
CLUB OPEN FROM 12PM DAILY BISTRO OPEN FROM 5:30PM THURS-SUN COURTESY BUS FROM 5PM SAT-SUN 27 Cliff St., Paxton | (02) 4998 1277 | paxtonbowlingclub.com.au
