HSC students and music pupils will have a chance to show off their skills when they are recruited to provide live entertainment at Marmook and Poom Poom’s restaurant.
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This was revealed to the Mercury on Thursday by the new owner Howard Bourne, who also disclosed:
- The licensed restaurant will now trade seven days a week.
- It has a new chef, Caryn McIlwain, from Sydney.
- Footpath dining will soon be provided.
- It will open at 8am some days and closing times will depend on the day.
Mr Bourne was manager of Tempus Two, the Pokolbin vineyard and winery, when Opera in the Vineyards started.
“In that position, I was able to bring singers Rod Stewart and Elton John to Pokolbin,” Mr Bourne said.
A major focus of his ownership of Marmook and Poom Poom’s will be to provide opportunities to young musicians to show off their skills.
“This is an exciting time in Maitland’s expansion and I wanted to develop this restaurant further after the previous owner moved on,” Mr Bourne said.
He outlined a live entertainment program with his son Nick and daughter Tessa hosting performances from HSC students and those from local music schools during the week.
“We will be bringing in students from music schools throughout the week to perform at the restaurant, which will give them confidence, provide them with opportunity and enable us to give back to the community,” said Mr Bourne, who has also owned another cafe in Maitland for five years.
He said Maitland City Council had been very supportive and his licence enabled juniors to be on the premises if they were with a responsible adult.
“This was one of the catalysts for me buying the business,” Mr Bourne said.
“I have been in the hospitality industry for some 25 years and Marmook and Poom Poom’s had a good reputation.
“I saw the potential here and the chance to provide an opportunity to others.”
