First Look: Sorrento's Continental Hotel Will Unveil Part of Its Multimillion-Dollar Revamp This Month
The six-level makeover includes a swag of new hospitality spaces helmed by Scott Pickett and Craig Shearer — ranging from a casual coastal beer garden to a seafood-driven fine diner.
It's been six months since we first heard the goss on the latest plans for The Continental Sorrento, as the pub's owners revealed details of a hefty makeover, complete with an overhauled food and drink offering helmed by Scott Pickett (Estelle, Matilda) and Craig Shearer (The Terminus Fitzroy North, Brisbane's The Plough).
Fast forward to now, and we're just weeks away from seeing parts of this grand, six-level redevelopment in action — the first phase of the new-look Conti is gearing up to open its doors from late March.
A whole suite of new hospitality spaces are joining the bill here on Ocean Beach Road, with options for post-beach pints, special occasion dinners and everything in between.
Named in a nod to Pickett's own grandmother and cooking muse, is Audrey's — a fine diner that fuses old-world charm with contemporary sensibilities. The signature restaurant is set to boast enviable bay vistas, an impressive wine program and a chic seafood-driven menu, even rocking its own marble raw bar.
Taking a more casual approach to coastal wining and dining are the modern Public Bar; an all-weather, greenery-filled beer garden; and a sprawling outdoor space dubbed the Promenade. This trio will be heroing Pickett's contemporary spin on classic pub grub, as well as showcasing Shearer's flair for and experience in creating top-notch pub spaces.
Craig Shearer & Scott Pickett; by Parker Blain
Yet more adventures await you amongst the foliage of greenhouse-inspired diner The Atrium, and the plush surrounds of Coppins Lounge, with its refined booze offering and lobby bar energy. Meanwhile, the late-night crowd will find their haven within the Conti's speakeasy-style haunt, Barlow, which is serving up elevated bar snacks, crafty sips and a diverse program of live entertainment.
The heritage-listed site is also set to play host to luxury 108-room hotel the InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula, and an assortment of function spaces will be led by Pickett and Shearer's teams. They range from the grand to the intimate, including the beautifully restored Grand Ballroom, Halcyon Hall, al fresco Sunset Terrace and The Gallery.
Hotel guests will also have exclusive access to the Pool Deck, where it's all about holiday-style snacks and fun cocktails enjoyed in poolside cabanas.
And, as a bonus for cocktail-lovers, the Speakeasy Group (Eau de Vie, Nick & Nora's) will be serving a slew of its own seasonal concoctions across the entire precinct.
Find The Continental Sorrento at 1-21 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento. Its spaces will open in stages over the coming months, starting from late March. We'll share more details as they drop.
Images: Renders courtesy of The Continental Sorrento; photos by Jeremy Wright
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