If you already love the Burwood Inn at Merewether, you're going to love it even more under the guidance of new hoteliers Tony and Sandra Dart who took over the venue just six weeks ago...
With 38 years experience in the hotel industry, you could say Tony Dart knows a thing or two about running a pub.
He poured his first beer at age 18 at Grafton Hotel and has since been the driving force behind seven NSW pubs including Tattersals Hotel - Greta, Oriental Hotel - Cooks Hill, Hunter River Hotel - East Maitland, Albion Hotel -Wickham, Bradford Hotel -Rutherford, Lemon Grove Hotel - Wallsend and now Burwood Inn at Merewether.
"I started pouring beers at 18 and have not left the industry since then, " Tony said.
"I began my journey at in Grafton and have somehow managed to make my way down to Newcastle along the way."
While there are many aspects of the hospitality industry that Tony enjoys, what matters most to him is his relationship with the local community the hotels serve.
"Being in a hotel gives me a perfect vehicle to be able to help people, " Tony said.
"I don't come from a rich family, what we have is what we made ourselves and you can call it empathy I guess, but I just think it's important to make a difference wherever you can. Running hotels has given me that opportunity and it's been a good fit because that's who I am as a person, but I also believe it is an important role for hotels as well.
"I don't come from a rich family, what we have is what we made ourselves and you can call it empathy I guess, but I just think it's important to make a difference wherever you can. Running hotels has given me that opportunity and it's been a good fit because that's who I am as a person, but I also believe it is an important role for hotels as well..."
"I think as a whole, hotels are not often recognised for the amount of work and money they provide to their communities. Some of it goes to the wider community and larger non-profit groups, but the main percentage goes to smaller local groups and individuals not necessarily on the radar for the funding they so badly need and deserve.
"Pubs are the cornerstone for providing hyper-local support when it comes to funding provision and that's something I've always been proud to be a part of."
