It's one of the iconic pubs in the central west, but for too long the Commercial Hotel in Millthorpe has been closed to loyal locals and interested tourists.
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The 'Top Pub', as it's known by those locals, is undergoing a restoration and renewal unlike any it's seen in decades.
Orange-based siblings Andrew and Kath Logan are charging ahead with their comprehensive plans to bring new energy and life into the hotel, and if everything goes according to that plan, opening day is so close, you can taste it.
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"We're still waiting on a few things to be completed like the EFTPOS system before we know when we're closer to opening, but it looks like the beginning of May," Mr Logan said.
The pair have already opened the freshly painted and appointed accommodation, rebuilt the bar, installed new lines for the beer, poured a few for family, friends and workers and repainted the entire interior, and it's all part of their back-to-basics vision for the hotel.
"We just want to bring it back to what it was," Mr Logan said.
"It was built in 1877 and has been continuously licenced since 1960 and when we bought it we could see what it had been once, and we want to return it to that."
Mr Logan said that with the high profile position that it has, on the crossroads of two busy roads that visitors use to enter the village and opposite other historic buildings, tourists are often popping their heads in the door.
"They often walk up here and stand out the front of the Commercial wishing that they could come in," he said, laughing. "And I wish that we could let them come in."
The front bar is much more intimate than it was now that the old lounge bar is closed off, and the use of that area is still under consideration with either it being reopened if the main bar gets too busy, or as a stand- alone wine store.
We want a restaurant that serves good regional ingredients, simple food that's done really well
- Andrew Logan
When the pair first purchased the hotel their plan was to try to find an interested party to run the bar and restaurant, now though they'll be holding the reins and guiding the development and direction of the hotel.
"We never really had anyone that could throw something up that was really that compelling and fitted our vision," Mr Logan said.
"We want a restaurant that serves good regional ingredients, simple food that's done really well, is good value and different to your standard pub fare."
As for the feel of the pub, once more that back-to-basics approach shines through.
"There's not going to be a TAB, there are no gaming or poker machines. It's a place where people can come in, interact and socialise. Just as pubs have always been."
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