Medowie set to get Social this Summer

The search is over! After a competitive expression of interest process, the lease for the long-awaited Medowie Sport and Community Facility has officially been signed

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Ben and Charlie Way, 2 of the partners of the highly-successful Little Beach Boathouse in Nelson Bay, are the successful applicants.

The experienced pair plan to launch Medowie Social, a community and family-focused venue, this summer. Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer says it’s an exciting day for Medowie.

“This is fantastic news for the community of Medowie, who have been patiently waiting for us to find the right operator for this incredible facility. “Ben and Charlie are successful local restauranteurs who understand what our community wants and know how to create a unique experience. I’m very confident we’ve found the best people for the job and I can’t wait to visit when it’s open,” Mayor Palmer said.

Executive chef Ben Way, who was also a former head chef at Muse Restaurant in the Hunter Valley, says he’s excited to create something special for the Medowie community.

“We’ve lived in Port Stephens for over 20 years and we’re now raising a young family in Medowie, so we’re passionate about the future of this growing town and supporting our local tourism industry,” Mr Way said.

“With Medowie Social, we really want to create an affordable and quality venue that caters for young and old alike, where our community feels welcome.

“Fresh is always best, so our menu will feature fresh produce sourced locally wherever possible. We also plan to have a strong focus on local sporting groups and creating a friendly environment for celebrations, fundraising and presentations,” he said.

“We’re excited to get to work on making this vision come to life!” Council’s Community and Recreation Coordinator Brock Lamont says it’s a great outcome.

“We finished building the facility in February 2020 but COVID-19 hindered our initial search for an operator, with high quality applicants not able to proceed.

“It’s safe to say the wait has been worth it. This is an incredible community facility and we’re excited to have worked closely with Ben and Charlie to get the best outcome for our community,” he said.

“We’ll also soon be launching an exciting new produce market in the grounds of Medowie Social, which will support local farmers and growers and create a family-friendly event for the local community,” he added.

About the Medowie Sport and Community Facility Situated at 36A Ferodale Road, the Medowie Sport and Community Facility has been designed to be a central place for the local community to come together. It includes multipurpose events spaces, bistro, bar, synthetic bowls green, fenced children’s playground and 100 car parking spaces.