OUR favorite spot got a renovation… Best part of the story – Rob met Paul Kelly (the person who managed the project) randomly during a weekend get away up the coast!

Excerpt from The Telegraph Newspaper: IT’S been serving lower north shore patrons since 1885 and has witnessed love blossom over generations under its time-honoured Oak tree. Now Neutral Bay’s iconic hotel, The Oaks, is undergoing a $4 million revamp to attract a younger, savvier crowd. But loyalists need not fear their beloved venue will become the next ‘Ivy’. While the renovations – the pub’s first major overhaul since the 80s – are an attempt to compete with the ritzy small bar precinct in Grosvenor St, the site’s classic art nouveau and art deco features will be retained. Renowned architect Paul Kelly, who designed The White Hart bar in Neutral Bay and worked on Sydney’s Star casino, is behind the upgrade. The reinvigorated hotel will feature a ‘meatorium’, an in-house butcher offering cuts of meat for patrons to either cook themselves or request a chef cook to their liking. Long-time chef Denise Brinson and Italian chef Danny Russo have developed a mediterranean-inspired menu, including pizzas, steak and traditional pub fare. There will also be wine matching events and a new menu of craft beers that support Aussie breweries, including Stone and Wood from Byron Bay. The bistro, bar and grill areas are due to be completed in early July and the garden pavilion in October.

QUITE A HISTORY:
– Built in 1885 at 118 Military Rd, Neutral Bay
– The Oak tree in the courtyard was planted in August 1938 by Kathleen McGill (original seed was 30cm high and came from department store in Sydney)
– Members of the Furlong family held the license from 1918 to 1975
– The pub is owned and run by the Thomas family, who purchased it 40 years ago