The historic Newcastle corner pub, The Grand Hotel, has reopened their back bar, now known as Henry’s Parlour and is bringing a new personality to the former pokies space.

Having ripped out the pokies well over a year ago, the team at The Grand Hotel have been busily transforming that area into an old-world tavern-styled space perfect for functions and cosy winter dinners.

Just in line with the 1^st birthday of their much-loved downstairs bar, The Underground, the launch of Henry’s Parlour, the second instalment of the venue’s long-awaited renovations has once again hit the nail on the head.

The name, Henry’s Parlour, is a nod to the venue’s long history; the hotel having been constructed in 1891 by former Mayor, Henry Buchanan alongside a collection of neighbouring townhouses.

“A few buildings up from here, it actually says Buchanan on the façade; I think that’s where they got to before he passed away,” co-owner and publican, Lukas Thodas shared.

The recently launched dining area and function space is inviting and moody, featuring dark timber, quirky decorations filling every nook and cranny, and cosy booths that encourage you to linger and sample their full food and drink offering.

“We wanted to create a new and inviting space that suited the hotel, so we’ve repurposed the old VIP lounge and combined it with the back bar to create an amazing function room.”

Customised stained glass features on both the exterior and interior windows adding to that heritage feel of the pub, another special touch to the overall offering of Henry’s Parlour.

Open seven days a week, Henry’s Parlour will be available as a dine-in space for guests or can be booked privately for an upcoming event with the team offering a selection of function packages to suit your budget.

Utilising this unique space, Henry’s Parlour will be home to wine pairing nights in the future, as well as their Monday special, Henry’s Supper Club.

For $55, diners will enjoy a surprise three-course meal, plus a glass of wine, that will remain a secret until every Monday night.

“It’s pretty good value, as this would usually cost somewhere between $60-$70 when purchased individually, and the glass of wine would be on top of that.”

The team will also be offering glasses of premium wine with Coravin, adding an elevated offering to your dining experience.

“We will still have our normal wines available, but we will have one white and one red bottle that may usually go anywhere from $80-$120, but we’ll be doing serves by the glass for $25-$30. Our premium wine selection is honestly out of control.”

Having opened the space up in late May, the venue also launched its new winter food menu boasting a grand selection of pub classics, seasonal dishes, and hearty comfort food perfect for those cooler months.

Next on the cards for The Grand Hotel is the front bar renovations which are currently set for finishing in late September/October this year before the team move upstairs and start freshening up the accommodation.

We’re loving what the team have done thus far and can’t wait to see how the venue continues to add to our local hospitality offering.