Saint goes marching in
Grand Nash before closing for renovations in 2019
It is the joining together of two great Paddington institutions: Josh Niland’s Saint Peter and the Grand National Hotel.
The tiny Oxford St fish restaurant will relocate to one of Paddo’s grandest pubs this summer, creating a luxury new destination restaurant at the venue at the corner of Underwood and Elizabeth streets.
The new Saint Peter will have an opulent 45-seat dining room with guests given full view of an open kitchen, wood-fired grill and a window into the fish charcuterie cabinets and displays. The restaurant will offer a la carte menu celebrating Australian seafood.
There will also be a private dining room for up to 15 guests.
Josh Niland
“We are incredibly excited to make this announcement,” Niland says. “362 Oxford St has been our home for six years and we have achieved a lot as a team within those four walls.
“However the opportunity to create a more expansive and accessible dining experience for our guests and creative opportunity for our team is incredibly exciting.”
The renovation of the grand hotel has been ongoing for many years, with the venue closing for renovations in March 2019. Paddington observers have noticed activity at the venue increasing over recent months, with the entire hotel gutted for the reconstruction of the site.
As well as the new restaurant, the upper floors will contain 14 boutique hotel rooms, and there will be a bar, continuing the tradition of the grand hotel as a drinking spot.
“Saint Peter was opened on September 1, 2016 and the ambition from day one was to create a space that celebrated Australian fish, vegetables and wine,” Niland says.
“Our menu will continue to offer a diverse array of fish species, quality produce and an enthusiasm towards exploring what is possible with a fish.
“Saint Peter will continue to showcase the leading fishers, oyster growers, vegetable growers, winemakers and artisans of Australia.”
Niland says the hotel will provide restaurant guests with an opportunity to extend their Saint Peter experience with “a luxurious overnight stay”.
“We will keep you updated with further information when we finalise exact opening dates, menus and design details,” he says. “We are so grateful to share this news with you and I can’t wait to be taking care of you all in the finished space.”
In 2021, Woollahra Council heritage listed the pub along with the Bellevue, the Imperial, the London, the Paddington, Paddo Inn, the Unicorn, the Lord Dudley, the Royal, the Village Inn and the Four in Hand. The Grand National, built in 1896, was sold in 2015 for $7.25 million to its current owner.
The Fish Butchery, the Nilands takeaway and fish shop, will remain open as usual on Oxford St.
saintpeter.com.au