However, a misinterpretation of the project led to an understanding that the hotel was closing permanently for the major redevelopment. Unfortunately, this has had a major impact of traffic through the doors for the last six months, compounding what was already a tough winter for the wider hospitality industry. “We always knew there was going to be a long lead time in getting a development approval through, but we needed to start at some stage. We see that as a longer- term project, to first, get the approvals, and then do the building. But in the meantime, we’ve got a great venue that needs to be looked after,” says Richard. “As Rob said, we probably hadn’t shown it a lot of love in the last 18 years, and it was about time we did something. But the message that got out was a little bit mixed that we’d sort of closed for the major redevelopment, but that’s certainly not the case. Especially being in Battery Point, it is a reasonably long process to get all the approvals in place, but it’s something we’re very committed to doing. We believe that the proposal that we’ve put to the city council is a very considered proposal.
We probably haven’t got the nicest looking building currently, we’ve got a lot of red bricks. But certainly, our plans for the future are going to be very sympathetic to the area. But in the meantime, we’re open for business as usual.”
“It’s 18 years in the making, and it’s something that we really think would add to the fabric of Battery Point.
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Tasmanian Hospitality Review Oct/Nov Edition
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