Kent Hotel in the suburb of Hamilton, Newcastle celebrated its 100th anniversary throughout July, including the reveal of its refreshed public bar.
Newcastle pub Kent Hotel, owned by Hunt Hospitality, kicked off month-long celebrations in early July to mark 100 years since it was first established.
The festivities commenced on Friday, July 12th with DJ Bellamy spinning beats while Thunderstruck and Shadow Boxer rocked the house with their electrifying performances. The excitement continued into Saturday with ALEX HAYES headlining alongside resident DJs and GENR8 rocking the downstairs stage, setting the tone for a month filled with music, community, and unparalleled hospitality.
“We’ve witnessed the community come together to celebrate a century of memories at The Kent. The overwhelming response from our patrons reaffirms our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences,” said Stephen Hunt, Managing Director of Hunt Hospitality.
“We are incredibly proud to share this moment with everyone who has made The Kent a part of their lives over the past century.”
Revamps and rebrands
In addition to the entertainment, Kent Hotel’s main bar has undergone a complete renovation. The space now features an open atmosphere designed around a central, Art Deco-inspired U-shape bar, which pays homage to the pub’s origins dating back to 1924.
A significant aspect of the renovation involved removing the dividing wall, creating a seamless service experience from all angles. This project was planned over three years, with Hunt Hospitality COO Ricci-Lee Wheeler collaborating closely with architects to ensure both aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. Local building firm Impact Building oversaw the project, managing everything from electrical installations to wall rendering and tiling.
Kent Hotel also re-opened it’s kitchen with the revival of an old favourite, The Kent Bar & Grill. The Kent has undergone various iterations as a grill venue. It was known as ‘The Kent – Steak & Seafood Grill’ until 2009. Subsequently, ‘The Kent Bar & Grill’ was adopted in 2014 and remained unchanged until 2020.
With a new menu and weeknight specials, The Kent Bar & Grill aims to enhance the dining experience for all guests. The new steakhouse-inspired menu, curated to complement the refurbished space and vibrant atmosphere, features a variety of dishes that are sure to delight both new visitors and longtime patrons.
“Many of our patrons fondly remember The Kent as ‘The Kent Bar & Grill,’ so we saw this as the perfect opportunity to honour that piece of our history. Renaming our Bistro to The Kent Bar & Grill not only pays homage to our past but also highlights the exciting new direction of our menu,” stated Wheeler.
Kent Hotel has been owned by Stephen Hunt for the last 22 years and is the flagship venue for Hunt Hospitality. Hunt’s tenure represents the longest-standing ownership in the hotel’s history.
“Being a part of this great community for so long has been so rewarding. Our motto with any of our pubs has always been to recall pub traditions with a twist of today and I believe this renovation of the old pub has achieved that.”
Stephen Hunt will be participating in a panel at the Pub Leaders Summit on ‘Adaptive and Viable Business Models.’ The Pub Leaders Summit, brought to you by McCAIN and Australian Hotelier, will be held in Sydney from 9-10 September. Visit the website for more details and ticket purchases.
