Petersham's White Cockatoo Is Getting the Gastropub Treatment

With the reopening of the Hotel Palisade, the controversial re-do of Durty Nelly's as The Village Inn, the revamp of the Bellevue Hotel, and the recent Vic on the Park-steered reno of The Lord Gladstone, the debate over great and terrible pub renovations is rife in Sydney at present. Now there's another on the table, with Petersham's White Cockatoo set to reopen as The West Village in October.

Celebrated as a tried and true 'sham local with a schnitzel worth crossing the city for, the White Cockatoo is now under new ownership — ex-Drink 'n' Dine ownership. Locky Paech, former general manager of the Forresters in Surry Hills, is one of the new co-owners of the Petersham pub. Alongside business partner James Bodel, Paech has created a new Sydney hospitality group, Goodtime Hospitality.

They've recruited lauded design crew Alexander and Co. for the job, renowned for such restaurant and bar fitouts as Surly's, Daniel San, The Print Room, Watsons Bay Hotel, The Morrison and the new Village Inn. Paech told Good Food the pub won't be gimmicky, so here's hoping the pub keeps some of its integrity.

If you're worried about the schnitties, Paech is apparently going to keep a version of the dish that made the White Cockatoo famous in Sydney over 12 years of glory (in case you're after the real deal, the original schnitties are now being served at The Goni's Schnitzelria in Marrickville). We're not completely sold, but we'll give it a go. Paech has also recruited former Catalina chef Sam Thomson to create an original, gastropub-style menu for the West Village, with a focus on organic, ethically-produced ingredients.

The West Village will open at 30 Terminus Street, Petersham, opening in October. The White Cockatoo's famous schnitzels can now be found at The Goni's Schnitzelria, 296 Marrickville Road, Marrickville.

Via Good Food. Images: The White Cockatoo Hotel, Dollar Photo Club.