When business partners Fraser Haughton and Chris Cornforth first visited Yass, they were instantly charmed by the town’s sense of community, spectacular scenery and its laid-back country lifestyle. When they heard the Royal Hotel was on the market, the pair were excited by the opportunity to inject new life into the historical, iconic pub.
In recent months, the duo from Harvest Hospitality has worked with local tradespeople, chefs and staff to fully renovate the facilities, update food and beverage offerings and plan a roster of live entertainment and events.
Despite the extensive renovations, the pair has taken great care to preserve the pub’s historic charm by keeping iconic features and celebrating its rich history through photos and local stories.
Mr Haughton said the long history of the hotel is central to the pub’s identity and the update will keep it relevant for many years to come.
“When we bought the venue, we were given lots of photos of the old Hotel. It showed us how important this place has been to Yass through the decades,” he said.
“It was important for us to bring this pub back to life so it can once again be a hub for the Yass community to gather their friends and family to enjoy food and entertainment.”
Mr Cornforth said he was proud to be working with locals and supplying the best Yass Valley has to offer and is passionate about making sure that the pub, which will soon be known as The Yass Hotel, maintains its historic charm and celebrates its history.
“Through every step of the process we have done our best to partner with locals, whether that be our new team of staff, produce suppliers, and the tradies that have helped with the renovations,” he said.
“It was for this reason, that we decided to retire the Royal name, and rebrand as The Yass Hotel – to celebrate the town that started this whole journey.”
To launch the new look Yass Hotel – located at 111 Comur Street, Yass – they are hosting a party on 31 August. All are welcome to come along and enjoy a night of free food, some drinks on the house on entry, and live entertainment.
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