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Shelter Lennox People love the coastline and community around Lennox Head. There are not only more visitors, but more people are moving there too, with the number of dwellings in some areas such as Skennars Head, Cumbalum and Tintenbar forecast to double in 20 years to 2036. No one likes more people in their surf break, but a growing population often brings a better choice of restaurants, of which the neighbourhood gem, Shelter, is a good example. It’s been a fast and successful two years since their opening, with the relaxed, coastal restaurant gaining a hat in the SMH Good Food Guide after the first year, and now experiencing a surge in demand for weddings and functions. ‘There’s been a lot of development near Lennox’, says co-owner and front-of-house Andrew Love, ‘which means that we have to continually embrace new people and welcome them into the community, and learn new names and faces. We really want to be a place that locals can be proud to bring their friends when they are on holidays, but where everyone will feel comfortable. We’re going for an approachable, yet polished, vibe’, he says, laughing. The new ‘gem’ at Shelter is the glass-fronted Cupola, a 2 bedroom fully self-contained luxury spot above the restaurant. It’s understandably popular for weddings. Last weekend the bride got ready upstairs, the wedding was across the road on the beach, the reception was
downstairs at Shelter and then the lucky couple ‘retired’ upstairs. Since you can order room service, it’s got views of the famous Lennox point from its all-glass front, and it has the sort of tasteful styling most potential spouses appreciate, it’s not hard to see why it’s The Cupola has tasteful styling and views of the ocean! popular – increasingly so with couples who are summer, it’s getting busier and busier’, he adds. looking to Lennox as an alternative to Byron. Andrew, who in addition to sharing front-of‘We’re proud of Cupola’, says Andrew, ‘but house duties with co-owner Troy Noonan, downstairs you can still expect our usual manages the wine list, is a firm believer in offering; we still have the same head chef supporting the smaller, independent producers, (Dennis Baker) and the basic attitude to good and says that limited availability can be a good service and good food. What has changed is thing, as it keeps the wine list changing. that I feel we’ve gone from being the new kid But for all the changes, the one thing that still in town, to being embraced by the commuseems to be fun is running the restaurant. ‘Yes, nity, which is important to us, as we are here it’s a lot of work, but we still enjoy running the for the long haul’. restaurant together’, laughs Andrew, ‘we feel Shelter seems like a good place to work, and that it’s just going to keep getting better in indeed all the staff have been there for more Lennox’. than a year, surely something of a record in the transient hospitality profession. ‘That’s good for Shelter Lennox – 41 Pacific Parade. Open 7 days 6.30am–3pm, and dinner us’, says Andrew, ‘as it’s the staff that make the Thurs–Sat, 5pm–9pm. restaurant, and they get to know the locals… Ph 6687 7757 shelterlennox.com.au but I think we’ll need some more staff over
Good service and good food
Ʒſşŕ ëƷ ſĕƱĕſƷ ſëĶƆĕƆ ȡǟǞŊ Īşſ ćƖƆIJǕ ſĕ ưĶĈƐĶŔƆ Byron Bay Brewery will donate $21,760; all proceeds from their Premium Lager launch party held on Friday 15 November to Australian Red Cross, supporting bushfire-affected communities in NSW, QLD and SA. ‘The brewery has been under a thick smoky haze from the immense fires in the region. It felt like a strange time to be organising the launch party with shifting gale force winds accelerating the damage and evacuation stories starting to be heard from nearby towns. We wanted to do something to help the firefighters as well as our friends and family that are being affected by this catastrophe. We hope that our humble donation from the Premium Lager launch will help support our community and those risking their lives to save others’, said Head Brewer, Alastair Gillespie. Organisers and guests stated that it was a great success, and one of the best nights ever at the brewery as locals were full of energy with hip hop outside, rock inside, delicious beer, tasty food and good vibes all around. More than 160 Red Cross emergency personnel – mostly volunteers – have been on the ground in 35 relief and evacuation centres across NSW, QLD and SA. The proceeds from the Premium Lager launch event will sponsor people at evacuation centres and recovery hubs, providing psychological first aid and offering information and practical support.
26 The Byron Shire Echo mşưĕŔćĕſ ǩǮǽ ǩǧǨǰ
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