Merewether Surfhouse is set for a major shake-up, with new owners confirming plans to transform the three-level beachfront venue into a new hospitality destination.
Hospitality operators Ben May and Rob Domjen will take over the Newcastle venue in October, with the site to continue operating through summer before closing for a major renovation in February 2027.
The revamped venue will reopen as Merewether Pavilion in mid-to-late 2027.
The pair, who are behind a number of major coastal hospitality venues, said they were drawn to Merewether because of its location and existing connection with the community.
“Merewether Surfhouse is one of those opportunities that doesn’t come along very often,” May said.
“It’s an incredible position overlooking one of Australia’s great beaches, but what really appealed to us is the place it already holds in the community.”
The existing Surfhouse includes a restaurant, beach bar, rooftop bar, event spaces and a kiosk along the Merewether Beach promenade.
For the first few months under the new ownership, little will change.
May and Domjen plan to spend time getting to know the Surfhouse team and the local community.
During this time, only minor changes are expected to the food, drinks, styling and programming before the redevelopment begins.
“We’ll spend the first few months listening and getting to know the venue before we make any major changes,” May said.
“Then take the time to create a Merewether Pavilion that locals are genuinely proud to call their own.”
While the full plans are still being developed, the owners have confirmed that The Tropic, a coastal dining concept from their Burleigh venue, will form part of the new food and beverage offering.
Further details about the redevelopment, including additional dining concepts and project collaborators, are expected to be announced later.
Domjen said the pair were not looking to simply replicate the same venue in different coastal locations.
“We want to create venues that feel like they belong to their communities, rather than something that could be picked up and dropped anywhere,” he said.
The acquisition also marks the launch of Pavilion Venue Co., which will bring the operators’ coastal venues under one group.
However, the immediate focus is on Merewether, with the pair saying they want to build on the Surfhouse’s existing identity rather than start from scratch.
The venue will continue trading largely as it does now until its planned closure in February 2027.
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