Shire hotel group's 'big pitch' to operate food and beverage venues in North Cronulla surf club redevelopment

The group's proposal is for the upstairs, 250-seat venue to be open to the public, with a focus on good food in a casual environment, rather than high-end dining.

The downstairs area, on the south-eastern corner, would continue the informal atmosphere of the former kiosk cafe, but with modern facilities.

Twenty-five potential operators submitted expressions of interest, before the closing date in early August.

Club president Geoff Budd said the submissions had been whittled down and the the club was "very close" to a decision.

"We are hoping to have it finalised in a week or two," he said.

The signing of contracts will provide a guaranteed revenue stream for the club, enabling construction of the long planned project to get under way.

Mr Budd said they were looking to start building in early 2022, with completion by this time next year.

The Feros Group owns and operates two of the shire's newest hotels, The Prince at Kirrawee and Highfield Caringbah, as well as Taren Point Hotel.

Chief executive Chris Feros said, "We have done a really big pitch to the club and we hope they pick us, but we are still waiting for their decision".

"We are really excited about what we could do with it," he said.

"If we get it, we definitely won't let the club or the community down - we will put something in there that will be very fit.

"We would do both upstairs and downstairs.

"Upstairs would be a great opportunity - about 250 seats, looking over the water.

"We would do casual hospitality, with food being the focus.

"We see really great opportunity for people to come there and enjoy the beautiful view and the position on the park.

"We wouldn't over complicate it. It definitely wouldn't be a high end restaurant, but rather excellent, affordable dining."

Mr Feros said the downstairs cafe would be "Aussie takeaway and sit-down, nothing fancy, beach food, good fish and chips, burgers, ice blocks for the kids, all that sort of stuff".

"This is Cronulla, not Bondi," he said.

Mr Feros said the group was still "looking at" operating the pub proposed by Sammut Developments on the edge of Monro Park.

"We are doing work on it, but haven't signed any documents in relation to that development," he said.

Mr Feros said they "definitely" had the capacity to take on both the surf club and the new pub.