A new hotel to be established in the old Caringbah Bizzos Club will “bring a little bit of the city to the suburbs”, say its owners.
The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority has granted a full hotel licence to Feros Hotel Group for the venue, tentatively named Highfield Hotel after the suburb’s original name.
Sutherland Shire Council had earlier given development approval.
Approved trading hours are 10am to midnight from Monday to Saturday and 10am to 10pm on Sundays.
The Feros Hotel Group has also built the new Kirrawee hotel, The Prince, which is due to open on February 6.
Caringbah Business & Sports Club (Bizzos) closed its doors and administrators were appointed in 2015.
Feros Hotel Group opened US style sports bar Huxley’s and Ugly Pizza in the building, on Banksia Road ground level, in December 2015.
Chief executive Chris Feros said the upper two levels, entered from Mackay Street, would be converted at a cost of $7 million into the new hotel.
Mr Feros said the middle level would be an Australian sports bar and the top level a “rooftop bar” with a huge, north facing terrace and “special food offerings”.
“We have registered the name Highfield Hotel, and I am reasonably confident we will go with that,” he said.
“We envisage part of the venue will be open by mid-2017, and fully operational by the end of the year.
“It’s going to be something special, and will bring a little bit of the city to the shire, but we are not losing sight of the fact we are in the suburbs so it won’t be city prices, but a very good offer.”
Mr Feros said the hotel would operate separately to Huxley’s and Ugly Pizza but, together, the various operations would provide “a hospitality precinct”.
“You will be able to watch American football in Huxley’s, move up to the Australian sports star to watch the NRL and then join the family for dinner on the top level,” he said.
Mr Feros said children would be welcome on the top level, but it would not have a dedicated area for them.
Another feature of the top level would be a “huge, stone open fireplace” and “we are looking at putting in a Robaba grill [skewers slow-grilled over hot charcoal].”
Group operations manager Simon Johnston said the “rooftop bar” was something new for the shire.
”With the mix of dining, drinking, bar spaces, huge outdoor area, fantastic views to the city, I think it’s going to make a statement and set a new standard,” he said.
”There is so much development and increased housing, I think this area is crying out for more hospitality establishments.
“It will be a genuine community asset when it’s finished, and that’s our goal.”