The White Cockatoo in Sydney’s Petersham now incorporates mushroom heaters. The space also closes up at the front and the roof covers a large portion of the courtyard. Credit: Alana Dimou
HEATING AND EATING CRAIG HAWTIN-BUTCHER REVEALS THE HOTELS LURING IN DINERS WHATEVER THE WEATHER, WITH COMFORTABLE, COVERED AND HEATED SPACES WITH FOOD FIT FOR WINTER.
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ith many venues relying on their outside spaces to accommodate large numbers of patrons, it is critical to ensure these spaces remain comfortable, attractive and functional whatever the weather. Commercial heating providers, including Supagas, can offer venues a range of heaters for purchase or hire, along with LPG fuel arrangements, and may also offer additional complimentary and complementary services including Summer storage facilities and maintenance, so it’s worth exploring your options. With energy efficiency improving all the time – and environmental concerns in mind – a whole range of options are available. Credit: Tim da-Rin
THE WHITE COCKATOO, PETERSHAM Reilly Group’s The White Cockatoo Hotel in Sydney’s Petersham offers a cosy indoor/outdoor feel with a courtyard space to soak up the autumn rays during the day and heaters and blankets provided for when the sun goes down. “The courtyard is prime real estate,” says Group Executive Chef, Megan McCulloch, “especially for those that want to bring their pooch along. As the leaves start to fall our menu starts to heat up with low and slow hearty flavours, comfort food and a big, warm hug. Think 12-hour lamb shoulders with root vegetable sofrito, baked jap pumpkin, black garlic and kale, Berkshire pork and fennel sausages with Dutch cream mash, date and orange bread and butter pudding with cinnamon gelato.”
THE STABLES, PERTH Across in Perth, WA, is an inner-city venue focusing on innovative modern Australian food, housed in one of Perth’s original horse stables. Three Pound Group’s The Stables’ General Manager, Tim McLernon, says: “The Courtyard is a great inner city space for casual socialising. In the cooler months we light up the fire and theme our menu with warm, easy-to-share bar favourites such as mac and cheese croquettes and crispy chicken wings.”
THE BANK, NEWTOWN Venues including Sydney’s The Bank (a Solotel venue) embrace the cooler weather by confronting it head-on – with an annual ‘chillifest’. As The Bank’s General Manager & Licensee, Amanda Verratti, explains: “Our spacious courtyard transitions beautifully into the chilly months. We put on the hottest festival in winter with Newtown Chillifest, now in its third year, which takes place Sunday 9 June.” “For the rest of the season, we’ve got fantastic beef and vegan roasts every Sunday,” says Verratti, “soups and stews on special and mulled wine available every day. “The courtyard is outfitted with electric heaters in the ceilings of the covered areas and plenty of mushroom-style gas heaters for the open-air area. That area is also able to be covered by a retractable roof for when the wind and rain kicks up.”
20 | JUNE 2019 AUSTRALIAN HOTELIER
Three Pound Group’s The Stables courtyard in Perth