A Rose by any other name

The Rose photographed in February. Photo: Tren van der Jagt

After years standing empty and idle on Oxford St, the historic Rose, Shamrock & Thistle Hotel is being reborn as simply The Rose Hotel, with a new onsite Mediterranean restaurant called Santa Rosa.

An extensive refurbishment has taken place to modernise the pub’s interior and a soft launch is on the cards for Thursday May 5. The adjacent Arts Hotel, currently closed for a refit, is also about to be relaunched. The new hotel will be known as Oxford House, a boutique hotel that will offer 65 rooms.

The two were purchased as a parcel mid last year by up-and-coming hotelier Jon Adgemis, whose ambitious Public Hospitality Group is snapping up hospitality properties across Sydney.

Santa Rosa will open with a short list of mostly Spanish-influenced shared-style dishes ranging from wood-fired octopus with spiced tomato and king prawns with chilli, garlic, lemon and parsley to chorizo with white beans and rosemary and charcoal spatchcock. Other dishes include beef cheek with chimi churi and paella.

The menu has been created by Public Hospitality Group executive chef Nick Mahlook, with a head chef announcement expected imminently.

Prices are all under $30.

Sources confirmed to Local Paddo that the amalgamated properties now belonged to the expanding hospitality group, which this week made the news, with reports Adgemis was seeking to raise $40 million for his growth plans.

The Australian Financial Review reported that former Crown Resorts heavyweight, Peter Crinis, had been hired by Adgemis to help with the operations.

Public Hospitality Group remains a relatively obscure organisation, even as it has made a substantial foray into the Sydney hotel market of late, recently buying the Lady Hampshire Hotel in Camperdown for $11 million, and the Empire Hotel in Annandale for an undisclosed sum. The purchases bring the number of properties owned or operated by Public Hospitality Group to 15, including The Strand Hotel in Darlinghurst.

While the RS&T, also known as the Three Weeds, had been shut for some time, the Arts Hotel continued to trade until late last year when builders moved in. The former 70-room hotel, which has a retro 80s pool onsite, has been given a glamorous make over and should be ready for its first guests within the month.

Public Hospitality Group describes itself as “a dynamic and fast expanding group who develops and operates inspired hybrid hospitality and accommodation experiences for the Australian market”.

“A disruptive hospitality brand … we have an inspiring pipeline of new venues set to open in 2022 ranging from boutique accommodation, reinvented bistros, bars, and rooftop terraces.”

The courtyard of the Arts Hotel, prior to its renovation

The Rose, Shamrock & Thistle is one of Paddington’s historic pubs. It originally opened in 1884, next door to where it now stands. That property was knocked down and replaced by its current classic Art Deco design in 1939.