Caroline Hammat
The front bar and bistro bar at the historic Grand Hotel is now sporting a new look thanks to $24,500 worth of federal funding that led to the upgrade.
In June 2021, 12 hotels in the Barker electorate received grants up to $25,000 through the Hotel Energy Uplift Program implemented by the previous federal government.
The grants were aimed at helping the hard hit hotel industry back on their feed after Covid-19 through lowering energy bills with air-conditioning, refrigeration or other energy efficiency upgrades.
The successful application by the hotel led to three new two door fridges and an three door under bench fridge.
One of the new fridges was quickly installed in the downstairs gaming room and the second swapped out for the old one in the front bar.
Hotel manager, Leandra Worrell said: “The old wooden fridges were beautiful but they weren’t cold enough.
“They were running on a compressor that we kept band-aiding every time it broke down, it wasn’t going to last forever, so it was the new fridges that started the process of the new bar.”
Designed by Adelaide based company Stoddarts, who specialise in commercial bars and kitchens Ms Worrell said: “They designed a more worker friendly space, working closely with us and our needs.”
The new streamlined bistro bar will be smaller than before leaving more room for customers with the new front bar the same footprint as the previous one.
The bars have now re-opened but were closed for 10 days while quick paced renovations took place with both bars quickly gutted revealing the existing fireplace, original 11″ high skirting boards and old slate tiles previously covered up.
Work was undertaken to level the floor in preparation for a more user friendly surface to be laid and upgrades continued with electrical, plumbing and new compressors installed in the cellar.
Ms Worrell is excited to see the new bar taking shape.
“It’s going to be a lot more user friendly for workers,” she said.
The old wooden bars and the bar tops, believed to have been installed in the 1970’s, have been salvaged and found new homes locally.
