Coming Soon: Celebrated Restaurateurs Josh and Julie Niland Are Opening Their First Boutique Hotel in Paddington
The hospitality power couple behind The Fish Butchery, Petermen and Saint Peter are hoping to replicate the success of their restaurant businesses as hoteliers.
Josh and Julie Niland are proud pioneers. The pair's low-waste, often experimental approach to seafood — most notably the innovation of dry-aging fish — once raised eyebrows, but today, not only are these techniques a hit with Sydney diners, they've also earned the Nilands international acclaim and an impressive haul of awards, including three coveted Good Food Hats. Now, the pair are trailblazing once again, launching a boutique stay attached to a restaurant. The Grand National Hotel by Saint Peter will feature 14 luxury suites located above the dining space of the Niland's flagship fine diner, which moved last August from its original digs on Paddington's Oxford Street to Underwood Street, just around the corner.
The former pub, which dates back to 1890, is entering its latest era as a multi-faceted hospitality destination following six years of renovations. During that time, an invitation to the Nilands from the pub's owner, George Penklis, to launch a new fine diner evolved into a bold plan to create a hotel-restaurant hybrid where top-of-class cuisine and plush accommodations go hand in glove.
With input at every level from the Nilands, Studio Aquilo has designed the interiors to blend existing heritage features like marble fireplaces with vibrant, modern textures and luxe details. The rooms, featuring custom velvet headboards and Australian-made artworks including black and white sketches by Ken Done, also underline the Niland's low-impact, eco-minded philosophy with fish-fat candles, down duvets ethically sourced by Melbourne-based company Bonny and ceramics created using fish bones. The Nilands aim to offer a complete hospitality experience, with breakfast by the Saint Peter team, handmade chocolates, and a non-alcoholic minibar included with every booking.
"When approaching the hotel, we paid as much attention to detail to the design and furnishing as we did with the restaurant. This is our first venture into being hoteliers, and we knew that we wanted to apply the same level of care to the rooms so that they weren't just an addition to Saint Peter but a destination in their own right," says Julie Niland.
"We want the restaurant and the rooms to complement each other as much as possible.," comments Josh Niland. "Opening the hotel allows us the opportunity to fulfil our vision of hospitality beyond dining into a thoughtful 360-degree hotel experience, from handmade chocolates on your pillow to the breakfast cooked by our team."
The Grand National Hotel by Saint Peter, located at 161 Underwood Street, Paddington, is set to open on January 31. Reservations are now open — go to the Grand National Hotel by Saint Peter website for more details.
Images: Christopher Pearce
