The final touches have been made to the long-awaited restoration of The Beach Hotel in Merewether, with its top floor restaurant Peregrin opening its doors this week.
The coastal dining venue – welcoming guests from on Friday 9 February – has been decked out in simple, timeless colours and textures in keeping with its coastal, laidback vibe.
Neutral finishes, curvaceous art deco walls, and a deep, rich colour palette contrast the sun-bleached, sea breezes outside.
Its name derives from the Latin word for “traveller” and honours a time when The Beach Hotel was the final stop on the Merewether Beach tram line.
“Just like The Beach Hotel below it, the restaurant has been created with connections to the community’s history plus a healthy dose of surf and sand to be a place that feels familiar and fun while offering a fresh take on some of our country’s best produce,” says The Beach Hotel owner Glenn Piper.
In keeping with the theme of showcasing the best of the region, executive chef Adam Rust will produce season-led menus highlighting premium ingredients sourced locally where possible and cooked simply over a traditional charcoal grill at the heart of the vast open kitchen.
Smoked Yumba Abalone with fennel, Wagyu Croquettes with beetroot relish and wasabi leaf and Moreton Bay bugs, charcoal-fired Eastern Rock Lobster, Whole Roasted Cauliflower are just a few of the tasty options Rust is planning.
Lemon Myrtle Polenta Cake and Dark Chocolate Fondant are some of his sweeter creations.
“Unfussy and relaxed, Peregrin’s menu has been designed to let the incredible natural flavours of the best local produce we could find shine through,” says chef Rust.
Peregrin’s bar will also be serving cocktails, snacks and small plates.
The brainchild of local practice, EJE Architecture, the space is designed to evoke the simpler days of mid-century Newcastle, when structures were built using nails and hammers, on hollow walls and timber cladding.
The restaurant features a side stairway display that includes key moments in time from people, community, travellers and immigrants that have forged Newcastle’s identity.
The opening of Peregrin follows the unmasking of The Beach Hotel in December 2023.
The project’s previous milestone was the opening of Larrie’s in May 2023.
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