Business
3 March, 2025
Pub with lots of cheer
THE iconic Barrier Reef Hotel is back with new management, new energy and a new mission – to be the pub where locals feel at home.
After four years of uncertainty, the Abbott St pub reopened its doors for good last Friday, under the management of Stephen Boyd and a new owner and licensee.
The hotel has been completely refurbished both inside and outside, with polished floors, fresh paint and a strong local sense preserving the history through photos and mementos.
In its first weekend back, hundreds of visitors went through its doors to try the largest range of Coopers’ ales in Queensland.
“The reception and feedback have been amazing. People are very excited to see the pub return,” Mr Boyd said.
“The previous owners Dennis and Donna Maher were the owners of the hotel since 2017 and they decided it was time to retire. They took care of refurbishing it and did a great job. It was a walk-out, walk-in deal.
“I’ve been managing venues for 25 years and I’m really excited for the future of the Barrier Reef Hotel.”
The refurbished pub maintains its classic style but no longer has pokies, only Keno and TAB.
Mr Boyd said it would be the perfect place for fans of the races to come, punt and socialise.
“Some things have changed, primarily our schedule. We’re now open six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm until late and Mondays on occasions,” he said.
“People were used to seeing it open once a month but now we’re open for good.
“We serve the longest range of Coopers in all of Queensland – we still serve Great Northern and XXX.
“The hotel will be available for functions, private events, birthdays, anniversaries and more and we’ll have live music on the weekends. We still don’t have a kitchen. We plan to have food trucks on the weekends but I hope that in a year’s time we can serve food too.”
The Barrier Reef Hotel was originally open in 1898. After a cyclone destroyed it, it was rebuilt in 1926 and opened for business in 1927.
Editor’s note: Media-shy developer and philanthropist John Richardson is understood to be the new owner and licensee of the pub.
