Hospitality operator sought for new-look Bondi Pavilion

Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said the tender was “stage one” of the leasing process for the precinct, which is expected to be completed in 18 months’ time.

“We want to attract a provider who is used to operating in a heritage building and meets the diversity of the people  who live in Bondi,” Ms Masselos said.

“They will need to cater to locals who are down for their morning exercise and want to grab a quick coffee, to people who have travelled to Bondi for a long lunch overlooking the famous beach, through to dinner and drinks at night.”

Major Sydney venue operators Solotel and Merivale – which operates a venue from the Coogee Pavilion, where it offers a similarly broad array of dining options – were contacted for comment by Commercial Real Estate.

Merivale had not responded at the time of publishing, while a Solotel representative declined to comment.

Friends of Bondi Pavilion convenor Eliane Morel said the group hoped any new operator would reflect the community nature of the pavilion and not be too upmarket.

“We would expect that any potential food/drink outlet that tendered would respect the character of Bondi Beach and be in keeping with Bondi Pavilion as a community and cultural centre,” she said.

“We would, therefore, be hoping for a venue that was not overly high-end, and that was supportive of the local musos and the community. We also note that it would have to be a venue that understood the seasonal nature of business on Bondi Beach.”

Head contractor Buildcorp recently began work on the project, which will provide new amenities on the northern side of the Pavilion, including a family change room, updated courtyards and community spaces and a renovated art gallery and theatre.

Stage two of the leasing process – which will focus on the retail tenancies in the northern end of the building – will be conducted by an initial expressions of interest process, followed by a public tender, conducted later this year.

Other elements of the project include installing a community radio studio and box office and upgrading the existing pottery space to incorporate a second kiln.

The renovation program is markedly different from original proposals for the pavilion, which would have seen a greater proportion of the historic structure handed over to private operators.

Those plans were met with widespread community outrage, with a local action group – fronted by celebrities including actors Michael Caton and Jack Thompson – campaigning against the development.

A change in the political makeup of the council saw the withdrawal of the $38 million redevelopment plan in favour of the current project.

“We are so very proud to be retaining the Pavilion as a cultural and community hub for future generations with a major focus on sustainability. This is what the community asked for and we listened,” Ms Masselos said.

“The Pavilion is iconic. Bondi Beach is iconic. And this is an opportunity to have something really special down there,” she said.