Broken Hill's new fine dining at the Royal Exchange Hotel and coffee experience at Gloria Jean's both now open June 2012

There are two new entertainment options in Broken Hill which have both opened in the first week or so of June.  They will be welcome additions to the city I am sure.

The Royal Exchange Hotel courtesy Ilmar V

The Royal Exchange Hotel has at last re-opened its beautiful and atmospheric restaurant to evening diners.  John Gavranich, who purchased the Hotel in November 2011 was quoted in the Barrier Daily Truth last Saturday 2 June 2012 as saying “I always wanted to do it but I wanted to get it right.”  John said “I’m offering the whole experience with both fine dining and entertainment.”

The talented chef Lee Cecchin will be in charge of the kitchen and pianist Clive Gregory will entertain the diners.  The restaurant will open at 6.30pm Tuesday to Saturday evenings.  You can book by phoning (08) 8087 2308.  I had a lovely cooked breakfast there in January this year and the room has a really lovely ambiance. 

The Broken Hill Visitor Information Centre has as last got its café back.  The Tourist and Travellers Centre café has been closed since May 2011.  Craig Willoughby and his wife, well known local artist Julie Hart have been working on the project for 12 months.  I met Craig in January this year and he told me of their plan to open the Gloria Jean’s ‘coffee house’ in the near future.  He explained it would be the first of Gloria Jean’s new redesigned coffee house experiences.  The café officially opened today although it has unofficially been open since last month.  The first unofficial day saw about 2,000 people come in for some refreshments.

The café’s hours are Monday to Saturday 7am to 6pm and Sunday 8am to 8pm.  It’s planned that the shop will eventually open until 11pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

I am really pleased that there is a café back at the visitor centre as it wasn’t a welcoming sight to have the empty café there especially for so long.

Cheers, Jane D