Overview
In 2015, Kings Cross nightclub Soho closed down, with the owners sighting lockout laws as the reason for its closure. Fast forward six years and the site is set to be transformed into a boutique hotel with a restaurant and bar on the lower level.
The property, alongside the conjoining Golden Apple brothel and Brougham Street terraces, has been bought by property developer Phillip George. A development application to turn the set of properties into a high-end accommodation and hospitality spot was also lodged with the City of Sydney earlier this year. The Golden Apple and terrace houses will be transformed into the bulk of the accommodation offerings, while the Piccadilly Hotel will be used primarily for a food and beverage offering that will service hotel guests and the general public.
George is yet to approach operators for either the hotel or restaurant but is hoping to secure one by early next year. "The DA has been lodged so we'll start our process looking for the appropriate operator so that we've got our vision of the property, combined with their vision," George said.
The Piccadilly Hotel was originally built in 1939 in place of the site's original hotel the Astral Club. Records for the Astral Club date back to the 1800s. The hotel underwent significant renovations in the 1990s and 2000s, with the lower floor being converted into the nightclub that would eventually house Soho.
The hotel and restaurant will become the latest new venue to open in the ever-changing Potts Point area. The inner-city suburb has seen a resurgence following the relaxing and eventual removal of the lockout laws, with many new restaurants and bars popping up in the area.
When asked if he sees Kings Cross and Potts Point moving towards more high-end and boutique hotels and restaurants, George responded: "I think it needs a mix of all offers in the market, you can't flood the whole suburb with one offer. You don't feed the whole community then. There's a community in Potts Point. There's people that have lived there for 50 years and there are newcomers to the area. You need to give them variety. You need to be conscious of the heritage and the fabric of the area, and we need to have a vision that delivers for all and not just for a select few."
Chaco Bar, across the road from The Piccadilly Hotel
The Piccadilly Hotel is located at 171-173 Victoria Street, Potts Point.
Top image: Render of The Piccadilly Hotel, City of Sydney development application