The Prince Hotel Unveils Social House, The Big Reveal We’ve Been Waiting For
The venue-within-a-venue features an 11-metre statement bar and the Shire’s first duelling piano experience
A Shire icon, it’s hard to miss the boarded-up facade of The Prince Hotel. For the last year, we’ve been waiting to glimpse what awaits behind the scaffolding, ready to embrace a brand new era of the local favourite. And now, the time has come.
Waiting to welcome us with open arms - and an 11-metre statement bar - is Social House: an over-18s sub-venue that promises to deliver great food, unmatched live entertainment and a next-level sports viewing experience.
The addition of Social House makes The Prince the Shire’s largest and most diverse hospitality precinct, ticking the final box in its long list of occasion-suited venues and making it equally suitable for young families as it is for 20-somethings meeting for cocktails or mates catching the game.
“This is an evolution, not a reinvention,” explains Simon Johnston, CEO of Feros Group.“The Prince has always been part of the fabric of the Shire. With Social House, we’re building on that legacy, creating more space, more entertainment and more reasons for locals to gather.”
Chris Feros, Director of Feros Group, explains that a key feature of the site’s evolution is the food. Social House brings with it a share menu that blends social dining with nostalgia, centred around rotisserie-style cooking, with generously portioned plates perfect for the whole table. Think old-school chicken shop with an elevated twist, built upon the desire to bring people together.
“The menu is built around generosity and theatre,” said Jamie Gannon, Group Culinary Director. “Rotisserie cooking creates flavour you can see, smell and anticipate. It’s interactive, it’s nostalgic and it’s designed to be shared.” In addition is a refreshed cocktail list and bar offering to match the premium quality we’ve come to expect from Feros venues.
But perhaps the biggest point of difference is the duelling piano bar.
Not sure what to expect? Picture cocktails, singing your lungs out, and a room full of high energy with strangers that will soon feel like friends. You throw up your request, and let the night unfold.
The redevelopment has also brought with it a brand new function space with an 80 to 300 person capacity, providing yet another incredible option for parties and events, in addition to more on-site parking.
“It’s about giving the Shire choice,” says Simon. “You might come in for a relaxed family dinner, watch the game with friends, host a function, or settle in for live music and cocktails. Now you can do all of it, in one iconic destination.”
Ready to experience it for yourself? Add their official launch party to your calendar.
The Social House launch party kicks off from 6:00pm on Saturday 23rd May, with jelly shots for the first 100 guests (because is it even a party without jelly shots?), and a cocktail happy hour from 6:00pm until 9:00pm. Plus, bookings are officially open now for dining from Thursday 21st May onwards.