Opera Bar leased for decade
The Sydney Opera House has announced that it has signed a 10-year agreement with the Solotel group to operate the popular Opera Bar after a highly competitive public tender process.
The group includes principals Bruce Solomon, Anna Solomon and John Gallas from Solotel, and Matt Moran and Peter Sullivan from MorSul. The agreement will deliver a significant rethink and refresh of the venue, including:
• A more diverse food experience showcasing Australian produce, with new menus by Matt Moran;
• New customer offerings – a charcuterie room, a raw seafood bar and a new cafe section at the venue’s southern end;
• Better public access through the venue;
• An extensive refurbishment aligned with the precinct’s heritage values; and
• An improved financial return to the Opera House.
Sydney Opera House Trust chairman John Symond said, “Opera Bar is the busiest food and beverage venue at the Opera House and one of the most popular in the nation. This excellent result demonstrates the value of the tender process and will ensure Opera Bar remains an important part of the Opera House visitor experience.”
Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM said, “We were impressed with the high quality of all the tenders in what was a competitive process. The Solotel bid was outstanding and the result will be a significant investment in reimagining the venue to enhance its status as a destination bar and restaurant. Solotel has operated the venue since 2001 and we’re delighted that Matt Moran will be taking a more active role in the venue.”
As announced last year, the Opera House is conducting public tenders for all its food and beverage contracts as they expire, as required by NSW Government procurement policy. The existing long-term contract for Opera Bar expires at the end of this month. All stages of the tender process were closely monitored by a probity adviser.
The refurbishment will be carried out in two stages. The first will involve a four-week closure of the venue, with the exact dates to be determined. The refreshed venue will be trading before the end of the year. The second stage of the refurbishment is scheduled to take place in 2015-16.
