The Grand View Hotel will embrace its heritage while also offering a state of the art modern facility as part of a $6 million refurbishment scheduled for 2024.
Co-owner and Queensland operations manager for Kickon Group Richard Harrison said on purchasing the hotel one year ago, it was always their intention to renovate, while maintaining the heritage of the building.
“We saw the potential. We want to keep the charm of the front section while taking advantage of the best block in Queensland at the back,” Mr Harrison told Redland City News.
“The local’s bar and heritage part of the venue will remain largely unchanged, that is what drew us to the venue originally and we don’t want to lose that.
“We will work on transforming the back section of the venue into something not seen in the area.”
“We want all of our patrons to be able to take full advantage of the views, the breeze off the bay and the leafy surrounds, you will be able to enjoy our food and beverage options and look across the bay to Stradbroke Island.
“It will be a modern and beautiful place but one steeped in its own history. Maintaining the heritage is important.”
Included in the vision is a 200-seat purpose-built function area, suitable for major functions and wedding receptions.
There will also be a casual dining space.
“It will be multi sectional space – risen sections and both low and high seating with a mix between casual dining, relaxed seating to take in the live music on a summer afternoon or, as mentioned, the ability to comfortably host large scale functions on the bay,” Mr Harrison said.
“The space could fit north of 500 at any time, it will be pretty revolutionary out here.”
Plans are also afoot for landscaping and increased parking.
Mr Harrison said it was important that the Grand View remained established as a unique part of its community.
“The kitchen will be visible and our guests will see the charcoal rotisserie oven and the pizza ovens as they walk in,” he said.
“We’ve started showing the plans and renders at the pub. It’s there to be seen.”
Work is expected to start around February next year and take up to six months to complete.
Mr Harrison said he was uncertain whether the hotel would be fully closed during the renovation period.
The Kickon group owns five Queensland hotels including The Collective at Palm Beach, The Plough Inn at Southbank, The Osbourne Hotel at The Valley and The Watermark at Townsville.
Former owner Gerald Brock said he held “great affection” for the Grand View.
“It’s an icon of the area. I was hoping that someone would take it to another level when I left and it looks like they have,” he said.
“I look forward to seeing the changes to this wonderful heritage building.”
