With its Heritage listing, handsome double-facing facades and roomy balconies, the Central Hotel has long had a starring role in the hotel scene in Stanthorpe’s main street.
The hotel is set to have even more star quality with a recent ownership change that will breathe new life into the classic offerings, says Star Group.
Some of it is the stuff of dreams. If you become a member you go into the mega-draw every Thursday night. This is run throughout all Star hotels. It’s a $5000 weekly purse, and if the prize doesn’t go off one week it jackpots to the next. Last week one lucky member went home $30,000 richer. Sooner or later it has to be someone’s turn in Stanthorpe!
There are other member benefits of the customer loyalty program including food discounts, birthday benefits, fuel discounts at United service stations (you might have to go to Warwick for that one) and lots of other exclusive benefits. Star rewards indeed.
Locally, some of the offerings that will really appeal are the 20 beers on tap, including Powers – which apparently means that everything old is new again. The wine list is getting a revamp too, with a larger selection including Granite Belt wines.
New manager Cara Vaeagi is brand new to the region and is loving the Granite Belt already. She says the kitchen hours are being expanded to include Sundays and Mondays.
“Moving from the city, you find that there are not a lot of places open here on Sundays,” she said.
So the bistro will be a very popular spot with its seven-day opening hours and its offering of Star-quality menus. The parmi’s are famous throughout the whole Star Group, yum. The beergarden is set for a brand new look and live entertainment will add a great atmosphere on Friday and Saturday nights.
Other improvements will happen over time and they will be sympathetic to the style of the hotel, with the vision firmly set on modernising while retaining the historical beauty of the place. Classic pub hospitality is the name of the game.
Locals will have taken note of the bright new Star logo at the liquor outlet across the road. Star Liquor is on a mission to deliver the best service and products at the best price.
Star Group is the largest independently owned and operated pub and liquor retail group in Queensland, with a portfolio of 38 licensed venues, 90-plus retail liquor outlets and six accommodation venues.
The Central Hotel has been a feature of Stanthorpe’s main street since it was built in 1908. It was officially opened early the following year as Sheahan’s Hotel. At the time, it was one of the biggest buildings in the town and had 30 bedrooms and four parlours.
