Orion Hotel grand opening tomorrow- we'll drink to that!
ORION Hotel staff will be serving up their first meal and pint of beer when they officially open the doors tomorrow.
The hotel is the latest business to begin trading as part of the $154 million stage two renovation at Orion Springfield Central.
Taking more than $3.5 million and several months to build, the venue features a 2000sq m restaurant and bar, sports bar, TAB, gaming room, function areas, kids' play space, outdoor terrace, stage and amphitheatre.
The hotel has been a boost for the local job sector, hiring up to 80 new staff from the Ipswich region.
Oz Hotels marketing manager Ra Marcroft said the new venue would offer plenty of variety.
"The Orion Hotel will cater for everyone within the community, from workers who are looking forward to a cold drink after work, to families who are looking to head out for a nice meal," he said.
"At any one time, we can have between 400 and 500 people enjoying a drink within the precinct and out on our large terrace; over 180 people in our bistro enjoying a meal from our qualified chefs, and more enjoying our TAB and gaming room facilities.
"We will have lots of live entertainment going on as well. We want to make this a real entertainment hotspot and world-class venue so locals don't have to travel into Brisbane CBD."
Manager Paul Telford said he was aware of some concerns about poker machines from posts on social media sites, but stressed the machines were there for people to enjoy their visit.
"If you want to have a play, that is fine. If you don't, then they won't worry you," he said.
Culinary artist Sam Richards will be overseeing the menu and kitchen duties for the bistro in his role as head chef.
Mr Richards, who previously worked at 127 Bar and Bistro in Brisbane, said he was looking forward to the new challenge.
"The menu will feature tastes of northern Africa and the Mediterranean, with dishes costing anywhere between $8 right up to $60," he said.
The Orion Hotel will host a family fun day on December 12.
Source: The Queensland Times, Ashleigh Howarth, 1st December 2015
