The Latest Plan for Sorrento's Continental Hotel Includes a Sunset Roof and Dining Led by Scott Pickett
There'll be everything from casual pub fare to degustation dining served across its bars, restaurants and function spaces — and the first phase is set to open by February.
If there's one thing we've all learned the hard way these past 18 months, it's that plans change. So it'll come as little surprise that there've been a few *ahem* major tweaks to the planned multimillion-dollar redevelopment of Sorrento's historic Continental Hotel since we last brought you up to speed in 2018. New owners Victor Smorgon Group, Kanat Group and Trenerry Property have just revealed the latest plans for the 145-year-old heritage building, which feature an expansive, multi-faceted hospitality offering headed up by renowned chef Scott Pickett and publican Craig Shearer.
Set to commence opening in early 2022, the Continental Sorrento's dramatic transformation will include a slew of food and drink venues operated by the two hospitality veterans. You'll know Pickett as the mind behind culinary hits like Estelle, Matilda and Longrain, while Shearer counts the likes of North Fitzroy's Terminus and The Plough in South Brisbane in his stable.
Here, in a buzzy pocket of the Mornington Peninsula, they'll join forces to deliver the Conti's main restaurant — named Audrey's, after Pickett's grandmother and cooking muse — along with a public bar and beer garden, a late-night venue, poolside and in-room dining, and a rooftop deck. The lineup of offerings will range from upscale degustation menus through to casual pub fare enjoyed straight off the sand, with an expected capacity of 5000 diners across the whole multi-venue site.
Parker Blain
As you can expect, the sprawling, high-profile hotel won't be short on additional function spaces either. There are plans to restore the building's original grand ballroom to its former glory, to sit alongside an assortment of other private, bookable rooms. The hillside precinct will also eventually be home to a new 108-room luxury InterContinental Resort Hotel and a wellness centre. The new consortium of owners took over the reins in April last year.
The Continental Sorrento is located at 1/21 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento. The first stages of its new hospitality offering are set to open from early 2022.
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