FEATURE STORY
While many pubs enjoy local trade while striving to become destination venues, the iconic Catho Pub at Catherine Hill Bay is doing just the opposite.
The popular pub, which has long been known as a weekend destination for car clubs, social motorcycle groups and day trippers, is now finding itself literally in the middle of a brand new market.
Local families and new homeowners.
Ongoing development of the nearby sprawling Beaches Catherine Hill Bay residential estate is bringing with it the opportunity for the pub to service an entirely new market, not just on weekends - but every day.
Hotel operator Scott Brown, who has been at the pub for the past three and a half years, says it is a challenge not many operators come up against.
"The way this pub used to operate was you'd just poke along through the week and then the weekends would be hectic," he says.
"Looking at the records, this hotel has predominantly been where people have come to retire and do a few years owning a pub, whereas at my age it's different.
"So, it's important that we now look at targeting a weekly night-time trade from new locals, while making sure to keep weekends the same. We definitely want to protect what Catho Pub is known for, while also becoming the local pub for our new residents."
And for Scott, being a hotelier is all about community. So much so, that when the April super storms hit back in 2015 he went door to door around Catherine Hill Bay making sure everyone was safe. The pub also offered ice and other staples to the local community while utility services were down.
" We definitely want to protect what Catho Pub is known for, while also becoming the local pub for our new residents..."
At the moment, Catho Pub is a haven for tradies working on the construction of more than 100 homes in the new estate and in need of a plentiful lunch and after-work beer.