Penny’s Hotel, on the corner of Penny Lane and Bayswater Road, is built on a firm heritage foundation. It is a safe space for the community to eat, drink, socialise, enjoy delicious food and friendly service in a newly renovated space.

The Potts Point district was Sydney’s bohemian heartland from the early decades of the 20th century. The illegal trading of alcohol was notorious in the area up until mid-century, led by rival brothel owners, Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh. For most of the 1900s, Potts Point was an entertainment centre which hosted numerous clubs and cafes as well as the Kings Cross Theatre, one of Sydney’s earliest movie houses. The area was also home to a large number of artists, including writers, poets and journalists such as Kenneth Slessor, Christopher Brennan, Hal Porter, George Sprod and Dame Mary Gilmore, entrepreneur Mayfield B. Anthony, actors including Peter Finch and Chips Rafferty, and painters Sir William Dobell and Rosaleen Norton. a notorious, self-declared witch!

Another who called it home was a young lady of the night named Penny who was forced into her vocation by homelessness. Penny plied her trade on the curb of what is now known as Penny’s Lane. The money she made was quickly spent on assisting those in need especially the homeless. She was instrumental in creating a homeless community in Bourke Street Park. Penny eventually left her profession to concentrate on helping the homeless in the community. The only salute to her golden heart is the laneway alongside Penny’s Hotel.

The hotel’s ethos and her sense of community are shared vales the hotel now champions.

The hotel was rebranded and opened  in February this year. It incorporates a dining room, a family-friendly restaurant with a children’s menu, and a  downstairs bar, the Pearl Bar, named after the pearl fishers and divers who did their commercial transactions there.

It is owned by locals, Tamie and Ashton Waugh, and run by experienced hotelier, Peter Tate.

Peter’s 35 years’ experience in hospitality includes the Beach Road Hotel, Bondi , the Royal Oak Hotel, Double Bay, and ownership of the Bellevue Hotel, Paddington. He certainly knows how to run a smooth operation.

He sees Penny’s Hotel as an opportunity to revitalise the area as part of a vibrant community.

And customers love the venue with a smart crowd coming from the local area and CBD. Fridays are busy although Residents in the shared Hamptons apartment building above can order up food at any time.

The area has been known for its rough and tumble past but Peter is emphatic that “safety is paramount here”.

Customers are an eclectic mix of the colourful, professional and 30 somethings.

The menu is all encompassing and the drinks menu is vast. With eight sparkling wines and a mix of French and local wines including 16 red wines, 27 white wines and 29 cocktails they can also mix cocktails on request.

The most popular cocktail is “Fantastically French” with Vodka, Chambord, pineapple, lime, syrup and cranberry juice.

And feedback is all positive with customers saying the food is “beyond delicious”.

Penny’s Hotel adds another layer of chic to the area that will be welcomed.

Address 9/15 Bayswater Road Kings Cross

Phone 9331 1188

Website  pennyshotel.com.au

Reservations reservations@newhampton.com.au

Bar hours

Monday – Saturday: 10am – 3am
Sunday: 10am – 12am

Bistro hours

Monday – Wednesday: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 9pm
Thursday – Sunday: 11.30am – 9pm

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions