After 12 and a half illustrious years in charge of the popular Elephant and Castle Hotel, owners Campbell Gibson and Annette Amerio have decided the time is ripe for a change of hands.
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Mr Gibson and Ms Amerio purchased the Elephant and Castle in 2006 [then known as the Tattersalls Hotel], and at the time, the venue was in receivership.
In the years since, the venue has transformed into one of the most popular pubs in Bathurst, and Mr Gibson said the key has been its unique image as an alternative late-night venue.
"We started trading as a normal pub, then we gained a late-night license and from there, everything fell into place,” he said.
“If you sit back and stay the same, people get bored, so we’ve always placed a strong emphasis on change and evolution.”
As recently as seven years ago, one can remember venturing down to the Elephant and Castle to find a cosy little bar opening up to a back area looking not too dissimilar to a standard backyard.
The transformation of the Elephant and Castle since then has been profound, with the venue now sporting a completely covered back area, an innovative sound system, designated outdoor areas and a delightful bistro.
“We’ve got a few other plans that we’re going to introduce to the back area before we go, and the little changes certainly make a difference,” Mr Gibson said.
The Elephant and Castle currently enjoys a turnover of approximately $30,000 a week, highlighting the venue’s diverse appeal.
The venue is especially popular among Bathurst’s younger population, with the monthly Lunã and Throne club nights never failing to draw a crowd.
Having spent many years in charge, Mr Gibson has seen plenty of staff members come and go, and has been proud of how they have evolved as people.
“It has been an honour seeing them grow from young university students to adults moving on into the wider world,” he said.
“We still keep in touch with many former staff members who were here years ago.”
Now that a changing of the guard is on the horizon, Mr Gibson is hoping the new owners will put their own spin on the Elephant and Castle.
“With hotels, you don’t really own them, you’re just given the chance to add a chapter to the venue’s book,” he said.
“We’ve written our chapter, and I think its been a positive one for the venue.”
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
