Pokies gone – Green Room on

The Beach Hotel in Byron has changed hands and is making big changes to how it approaches its operation from improving recycling to getting rid of one-armed bandits – and the staff and owners couldn’t be happier.

Since the Impact Investment Group (IIG) bought the Beach Hotel in 2018 they have removed the 15 poker machines that operated in the pub and taken the chance to redesign the space. Last night it reopened as the Green Room and it is the epitome of sourcing and working locally.

‘We are really proud of making the big move to remove our poker machines, It was a hard decision financially but it certainly feels like the right decision. The feedback from the community has been extremely positive,’ said general manager Elke van Haandel. 

‘For the new incarnation of the space, we have sourced everything locally. From the materials – to the collaborators –  to the menu, everything possible has been curated around what’s available in our shire. 

‘It’s not just the food – but the beverages too, every cocktail was curated around a Brookies Gin or a Husk Distillers product, with Stone & Wood on tap of course, but also we have been the first to pour Jilly wines on tap and Mount Warning mineral water.’

Aiming high

Reducing their contribution to landfill for a business like The Beach Hotel is no easy task, but it is one they are determined to tackle. The hotel has been working towards reducing their waste through new waste handling procedures and feel they have really been covering the ground.

‘We have been working hard over the past few years to reduce our landfill and do our bit to make change through our waste handling,’ said Ms van Haandel.

‘We went from a dismal 10 per cent recycling rate to a whopping 90 per cent+ and we are aiming for 100 per cent in the next year.

‘It’s not an easy process to instill with 180 staff but we have a great team who are all engaged in making a difference.’