PREVIOUS PAGE: RICHARD FADER (LEFT) & ROB WILKINS ON THE PRINCE OF WALES TERRACE ABOVE: MANAGER ALEX WATSON
The owners of the Prince of Wales Hotel may openly admit they don’t have the “nicest looking” building in Battery Point, but there is no doubting its history and importance as a watering hole for the local community. But following some mixed messaging around the hotel’s future, the publicans want to make one thing clear – they’re still open for business. S ituated in the heart of Hobart’s historic Battery Point, the Prince of Wales Hotel has long been a cornerstone of the local community, blending rich history with modern hospitality. Owned for nearly two decades by a quartet of dedicated partners – Richard Fader, Rob Wilkins, Craig Clifford and Michael Cooper – the POW has been a cherished establishment since its inception in 1843. Over the years, it has served as a central hub for locals and visitors alike, offering a welcoming atmosphere and a glimpse into Tasmania’s rich heritage. The venue’s bar and restaurant has often proven to be a hive of activity, providing a friendly and warming environment for patrons every day of the week. However, Richard and Rob concede the accommodation component of the building had been
neglected for too long, which ultimately led to an investment of more than $1 million into refurbishing the upstairs rooms earlier this year. “It hasn’t caused us any hassle, really, for 18 and a half years, and we’ve just sort of run along with it,” Rob says. “We did a little refurb on it 18 and a half years ago, but since then, we haven’t really done anything and upstairs hadn’t had anything done to it since 1976, from what we can gather. “So it was about time to add a little touch of love. We haven’t changed anything structurally or done anything like that. We’ve basically just gone through and done a complete refit of all the bedrooms and bathrooms and just really improved what was here. It’s a big contrast now really.” Earlier this year the owners announced grand plans for the Prince of Wales, which included the creation of a new apartment complex with a vision to “create a vibrant new residential community in the heart of the Battery Point village that complements the existing dwellings in the area”. Part of this vision included the demolition of the bar and restaurant and the ground- level car park.
19 Tasmanian Hospitality Review Oct/Nov Edition
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online