OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITY: A WARM WELCOME.

A warm welcome

Two pubs show how a well-designed outdoor area can protect from the elements and bring even more patrons to your venue.

LATE LAST year, a new pub opened its doors on the site of a former Hooters restaurant in the heart of Sydney’s western suburbs.

The Camellia Hotel, located opposite Rosehill racecourse on the outskirts of Parramatta, is the result of a $3 million redevelopment project by Dan O’Hara of O’Hara Group to turn what was an outdated restaurant concept into a family-friendly hotel for the whole community.

Dan O’Hara (left) and Andrew Do

While O’Hara has overseen numerous hotel renovations, this was his first full scale redevelopment. Running the Camellia Hotel is Andrew Do, a former licensee at The Central Hotel Blacktown and The Fairfield Hotel.

“Everyone seems really excited to have a new pub in the Rosehill area and they have been impressed with the fit-out of the hotel,” Do says. “The outdoor cabanas have been really popular.”

The newly constructed cabanas at The Camellia Hotel

It’s also an exciting location, he says, positioned across the road from Rosehill Racecourse and the proposed Camellia town centre redevelopment. Located on James Ruse Drive, a busy main road, the colourful cabanas on the pub’s front deck create a an eye-catching, yet relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Painted in the Camellia brand colours and decked out with bright comfy cushions, the cabanas are the main attraction of the pub’s outdoor space.

STYLISH SHADES

Another pub making improvements to its outdoor area is the Sunnybank Hotel in suburban Brisbane. It has been 12 months since it underwent renovations, and part of that included the upgrade of the outdoor dining space. The revitalised outdoor space has helped bring in more people to the venue.

“Post the renovations we have been able to utilise all the spaces and with a solid food business, we are seeing more people enjoying the outdoor dining space under the new canopy shade structures,” states venue manager Jayden Lowry.

Sunnybank Hotel’s new outdoor shade structure

Not only does the space have picnic tables, a big TV and festoon lights, but the addition of heaters in the space means people can even enjoy the outdoors on a cold winters’ night. Also helping protect from the elements is the new shade structure installed by MakMax.

“The new shade structure is bigger, and we have been able to increase volume and give patrons an alternative space to use. Inside the hotel can get quite busy, but people enjoy spending time outside under the alfresco dining area in a quieter space. On big live event days (UFC and boxing) people will sit outside and watch the event on the big TV. It’s a product we are proud of,” states Lowry.

The outdoor area of the Sunnybank Hotel has proved popular since modular shades were installed

It has even brought in attention from passing traffic, as the aesthetics of the structure were also considered.

“The new canopy looks great from the roadside and is a statement/feature that people notice as they drive by on the busy intersection, especially at night with the lights on under the canopy. We had plenty of onlookers and comments when the structure was getting built. Overall, we have had lots of positive feedback and experiences,” states Lowry.

“We are pleased with the new MakMax shade – strong and sturdy. It was interesting watching them put it together – stretching the fabric and installing the structure. It’s a product we are proud of.”

Feel the heat

With Sydney currently in the middle of an unusually cold winter, the Camellia Hotel recently sought out a heating solution, one that was discreet, produced a variable amount of heat, could be easily recessed into the design, and could match the décor. O’Hara landed on Bromic heaters that are powered by powered by solar panels on the roof of the venue.

According to Bromic’s key account manager, Australia and New Zealand, MattKelman, 95 per cent of the company’s hospitality sector heater sales used to be gas, but these days that’s fallen to just 30 per cent.

“Electricity has become more favourable thanks to green energy deals,” he says. “Also, there’s a pushback on portable gas heaters due to regulations around worker safety and bottle storage.”