Gilroy’s Hotel in St Leonards to reopen as Belroy next week

14 November 2023

By Hannah Wilcox

New life has been breathed into a classic St Leonards’ venue complete with a name change, major renovations and menu overhaul.

Belroy Hotel, formerly Gilroy’s Hotel, will open its doors on November 22 after the pub’s closure early last year after owner Gary McGrath decided to ‘evolve the venue to deliver an even better pub experience.’

McGrath has acted as the hotel’s proprietor for the last decade and boasts an impressive portfolio most notably including Barangaroo’s the Sussex Hotel.

Located at 77 Christie Street, it has expanded into the neighbouring site – doubling the floor space.

The two-storey pub still sports elements of the old favourite, with the ground floor Sports Bar offering classic pub grub and locally-brewed tap beers, whilst upstairs hosts the newly constructed Terrace Bar and Bistro. With a vision to create a venue with two contrasting yet connected spaces, designer Emilie Delalande of Etic did just that with the bright and airy conservatory-style level.

As a self-titled ‘ultimate urban city escape’, the Terrace is decked out in blonde wood flooring, light timber furniture, blue leather banquettes and forest green leather seats. The relaxed ambiance is achieved further through the assortment of foliage that continues out the French doors onto the outdoor terrace and wrap-around balconies – one of North Sydney’s largest.

Pub classics such as gourmet burgers, butcher’s choice steaks and chicken schnitzel will be available on the menu, along with home-style dishes such as chicken and leek pie with creamy mash and mushy peas, tender lamb ragu pappardelle.

The Belroy Hotel has an additional exciting new in-house French rotisserie cooking up signature half or whole roast chickens.

For group outings, the menu will also include share plates including tacos, burrata and antipasti.

Getting ready for summer is the cocktail menu with a range of fresh and delicious drinks on the ready, such as Northside (gin, fresh lime juice, raspberry, and mint), Rhubi Spritz (rhubarb liqueur, grapefruit, and a splash of soda) and Lemon Sherbet Spritz (Absolut Citron, Limoncello and lemon).

The Belroy Hotel will be open Monday through to Saturday, 10am to 3am and on Sunday’s 10am to 10pm.