When hotelier Dale McNamara’s “right hand man” lost his battle with cancer, he made a commitment to rebuild the Morpeth pub both men loved.
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Hotel broker Francois Sylvester, 56, died the same week the River Royal Inn was scheduled to be auctioned.
The beleaguered pub suffered shocking damage during last year’s April super storm and has been closed since.
With a massive repair bill and an almost complete rebuild needed, Mr McNamara made a decision to sell the iconic Swan Street business.
“When I heard there was interest from people wanting to turn it into a bed and breakfast and others not keen to renew the liquor licence I had second thoughts about the sale and took the hotel off the market,” he said.
The new look River Royal Inn will tell the story of Morpeth’s history through items of historical significance scattered around the 160-year-old property. “It’s a project close to my heart. It’s not about the dollar value but about bringing back to life a Morpeth institution so many know and love.”