Cronulla RSL is reaping the rewards of its latest renovation, reporting a 35 per cent increase in food and beverage revenue for September, just a month after completing its most recent refresh.
The renovation, which was over a year in planning, was focused on creating a fresh, welcoming atmosphere that appeals to a diverse crowd, with all new-furnishings, flooring and finishes for level three of the building.
“We have to stay relevant,” operations manager Bradley Bishop told Club Management, highlighting the need to cater to different demographics.
“The crowd we get on peak days is 50-50 – we’ve got traditional club members, and you’ve got the Instagram crowd as well.”
The revamped areas include the newly rebranded Bonfield restaurant, named after local heroine Beryl Bonfield. Formerly known as Watergrill, the restaurant’s transition to Bonfield has brought a refined dining experience to the club. New touches like leather coasters, linen napkins, and a curated wine list featuring boutique NSW wines – crafted with the help of Antipodean Hospitality – all contribute to the restaurant’s elevated appeal.
Since refreshing the wine list, there’s been a 30 per cent increase in wine volume, Bishop said.
The private dining room, 1942, has been expanded to include additional seating and a new wine fridge stocked with an exclusive, sommelier-curated selection for tailored wine pairing. Catering HQ, which came on board as the club’s new catering partner last November, helped shape the room’s own select menu and overall dining concept.
“We’ve got five-star views and so we wanted that five-star dining experience as well,” Bishop said.
The design inspiration for the updated spaces, especially the sunroom and deck, draws heavily from a Mediterranean beach club with natural timbers and earthy tones to complement the club’s beachfront location. To enhance the flexibility of the sunroom, various spaces were created to cater for both small and large groups, including a lounge area featuring a mix of high and low seating.
As the sun sets, ambient lighting transforms the venue into a cosy yet elegant space, ensuring it’s “as pretty inside as it is outside”.
Since the renovation, bookings have also surged, Bishop said, pointing out that Sundays alone see around 500 guests for lunch, while the venue hosts up to 900 patrons across its various spaces on Saturdays.
The club is now looking to update level two of the building where its cafe, Bites By the Bay, and its kids’ play area resides.