The Beaumont Street watering hole celebrates a century

Photography courtesy of Henry Brodbeck of Newy Digital

In the bustling heart of Beaumont Street stands The Kent Hotel – filled with countless stories, this watering hole celebrated its 100th anniversary this month, a milestone that owner Stephen Hunt of Hunt Hospitality reflects upon with pride and nostalgia.

Stephen’s roots are firmly planted in the hospitality industry, with his career starting humbly, washing plates in his local pub back in Sydney many moons ago. Flash forward a few years, Stephen purchased The Kent Hotel back in 2002 – the first significant venture under the Hunt Hospitality banner and the group’s official flagship venue.

This 20+ years of a labour of love is evident across every corner of the venue, especially following the recent extensive renovations which have completely transformed and revitalised the pub.

“When we were planning the renovations, we really wanted to pay homage to the venue’s history. Upstairs, you can see these marks in the brick that were put in to reinforce them following the earthquake

“Downstairs, we’ve still got some original tiling, pressed metal ceiling, and one of my favourite bits is the strike here sign. Many years ago, when you could still smoke in pubs, they would strike the match on these signs to light their matches,” Stephen said.

The Kent Hotel’s survival story following the 1989 earthquake is actually rather legendary. Following the earthquake, the building was set to be demolished. However, the previous owner’s persistence, coupled with the support of his wife, an architect, and an engineer, convinced the council to salvage the building.

“At the time, Bob Hawke was the Prime Minister, and I believe he came in two or three times within one year because he’d heard about the story.”

The recent renovations at The Kent are a blend of modern convenience and historical charm. The changes have been planned and slowly executed over the past three years and uncovered many a story.

“We would knock out a wall and we’d find all these gremlins that we had no idea about, but we did it. Walking in now you just go wow, this place is nice. The whole venue just feels fresh.”

The Kent’s 100th birthday celebration is not just about reminiscing on the past, it’s also about the team embracing the future of the pub. The menu has been revamped to feature elevated pub classics, with a strong focus on steak, harking back to the venue’s days as a steakhouse.

“We’ve brought back the Kent Bar & Grill which was a patron favourite. We’ve also got a new Head Chef in the kitchen, Bish – he’s phenomenal and he really takes pride in what he’s working on,” Hunt Hospitality Marketing Assistant, Shirley Shannon said.

Local sourcing remains a cornerstone of The Kent’s philosophy. This commitment to the community is reflected in every aspect of the hotel’s operations, from the renovations, food served, and the music played.

As always, live entertainment will continue to play a significant role in The Kent’s ongoing appeal.

“There has been a little bit of a change in the live music and event scene here, we’re definitely upping the ante. We’ll still have our classic RnB djs that will be in every so often, but we’re excited to mix things up a little bit. We’ll be seeing what the public reception is and we’ll go from there.”

As Stephen contemplates the future of The Kent, he remains committed to its legacy.

“You realise you’re not going to be here forever. But it’s good to be able to restore the pub so that it continues on for many years to come.

“The fantastic result would not have been possible without the foresight and hard work of our Director of Operations and Marketing Ricci-Lee Wheeler and Danny and the team at Impact Building,” Stephen said.

The Kent Hotel’s centennial celebration gives us all a moment to honour its storied past, reminisce on our own memories, and celebrate the exciting transformations that ensure its place as a cherished community hub for years to come.

“Maybe I’ll be here for 30 years – honestly, who knows? But for now, it’s great to see this place thriving.”