It was a mainstay of Byron’s nightlife for more than two decades, providing a colourful and at times controversial space for locals and backpackers to let their hair down.
Now, Cheeky Monkeys is being replaced by a swanky bar and restaurant owned by one of the country’s largest hotel groups.
Late last year, as locals were preparing to stuff their tofu turkeys, the Merivale Group submitted its development application (DA) for the famous site at 115 Jonson Street, Byron Bay.
The proposed $1.4 million renovation will see the venue that was once known for its cheap drinks and sticky carpet turned into a ritzy restaurant with an adjoining lounge bar.
Taking over an adjoining retail space that used to be home to a massage and spa business, the expanded establishment will have modern furnishings, tasteful planter boxes, and lots of glass.
It is not known whether the Merivale Group will retain the Cheeky Monkeys name, or offer an alternative that is more in keeping with their corporate brand.
Merivale’s ‘portfolio’ already includes 80 pubs, clubs, restaurants and other brands across Australia, making it one of the most lucrative hospitality companies in the country with a reported value of more than a billion dollars.
It is owned by Sydney identity, Justin Hemmes.
Among the venues owned by Merivale are The Ivy bar and nightclub on George St in Sydney and The Newport Arms Hotel on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
While the plans are unlikely to surprise locals, given the rapid gentrification of Byron Bay in recent years, many expected they would be submitted earlier.
When Merivale proudly trumpeted that they had purchased the site back in 2021, the company expressed its intention to open the new venue later that year.
The development application is currently under assessment from Byron Council staff, and is likely to be placed on public exhibition in the coming months.
It will then come before councillors for final determination.
Cheeky Monkeys was owned by the Red Rock Leisure Group. The venue was forced to close at the start of the first Covid outbreak and never reopened.
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