Latest news with #RoyalOakHotel
Sydney Morning Herald
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
2407msletters3
Coalition bulldozed heritage No one should be surprised at the lack of protection of heritage assets in NSW (' Heritage watchdog's database in woeful state ', July 24). The previous NSW government, with its thinly disguised contempt of all things heritage, made it a mission to eradicate any historic building or structure that was in the way of its ill-conceived and unwanted pet projects. A lot of damage has been done: Windsor Bridge, Willow Grove, Royal Oak Hotel, Parramatta Park and more. The current government needs to act swiftly to prevent further damage and protect our precious heritage assets. Bob Edgar, Westmead Thank you so much, Sydney Morning Herald, for exposing how bad the care of heritage has been in NSW for years. So now surely something will happen. What is left of old Parramatta might survive, perhaps the Powerhouse will survive as the world-class museum it was, perhaps Sydney Living Museums might get back on track and look after the state's most important domestic buildings, including the historic towns on the Hawkesbury River. The NSW Coalition government was a disgrace when it came to heritage. Clive Lucas, Neutral Bay The NSW Auditor-General's findings are a timely and sobering read. This dire situation is no surprise to all who have fought for years for the state heritage listing of the Powerhouse Museum. In fact, the 2022 Robertson & Hindmarsh report, Architectural Heritage of the Last Quarter of the 20th Century, commissioned at the request of the Heritage Council, recommends its listing. However, the nomination of the museum has been constantly 'deferred' for more than two years by the Heritage Council. Meanwhile, the previous government's plans for the demolition and destruction of this much-loved museum are still in play. Minister Penny Sharpe should ensure that members of the Heritage Council have professional expertise and knowledge in the field. The people's museum, one of NSW's four foundational cultural institutions, deserves better. Jennifer Sanders, Russell Lea Hot houses Why have planning authorities continued to allow huge houses with no gables and dark Colorbond roofs to be packed into newer suburbs over the last few decades (' Summer heat stress worst in treeless suburbs, new estates ', July 24)? Is it the greed of developers? Is it the aspiration to have a large house with little gardening maintenance required? Tree cover will never be possible in these estates as tall trees all invade gutters and drains if planted close to houses. Street and park planting have to be presented as an alternative. Katriona Herborn, Blackheath Surely it is obvious that houses, masses of them all together with no trees in sight, is a huge contributor to unbearable heat in summer. What is needed is a canopy of green to stop the heat on roofs. Where was the planning for this? It should be obvious by now that our summers are getting longer and hotter. Building codes must be changed as soon as possible, if it is not already too late.
The Age
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
2407msletters3
Coalition bulldozed heritage No one should be surprised at the lack of protection of heritage assets in NSW (' Heritage watchdog's database in woeful state ', July 24). The previous NSW government, with its thinly disguised contempt of all things heritage, made it a mission to eradicate any historic building or structure that was in the way of its ill-conceived and unwanted pet projects. A lot of damage has been done: Windsor Bridge, Willow Grove, Royal Oak Hotel, Parramatta Park and more. The current government needs to act swiftly to prevent further damage and protect our precious heritage assets. Bob Edgar, Westmead Thank you so much, Sydney Morning Herald, for exposing how bad the care of heritage has been in NSW for years. So now surely something will happen. What is left of old Parramatta might survive, perhaps the Powerhouse will survive as the world-class museum it was, perhaps Sydney Living Museums might get back on track and look after the state's most important domestic buildings, including the historic towns on the Hawkesbury River. The NSW Coalition government was a disgrace when it came to heritage. Clive Lucas, Neutral Bay The NSW Auditor-General's findings are a timely and sobering read. This dire situation is no surprise to all who have fought for years for the state heritage listing of the Powerhouse Museum. In fact, the 2022 Robertson & Hindmarsh report, Architectural Heritage of the Last Quarter of the 20th Century, commissioned at the request of the Heritage Council, recommends its listing. However, the nomination of the museum has been constantly 'deferred' for more than two years by the Heritage Council. Meanwhile, the previous government's plans for the demolition and destruction of this much-loved museum are still in play. Minister Penny Sharpe should ensure that members of the Heritage Council have professional expertise and knowledge in the field. The people's museum, one of NSW's four foundational cultural institutions, deserves better. Jennifer Sanders, Russell Lea Hot houses Why have planning authorities continued to allow huge houses with no gables and dark Colorbond roofs to be packed into newer suburbs over the last few decades (' Summer heat stress worst in treeless suburbs, new estates ', July 24)? Is it the greed of developers? Is it the aspiration to have a large house with little gardening maintenance required? Tree cover will never be possible in these estates as tall trees all invade gutters and drains if planted close to houses. Street and park planting have to be presented as an alternative. Katriona Herborn, Blackheath Surely it is obvious that houses, masses of them all together with no trees in sight, is a huge contributor to unbearable heat in summer. What is needed is a canopy of green to stop the heat on roofs. Where was the planning for this? It should be obvious by now that our summers are getting longer and hotter. Building codes must be changed as soon as possible, if it is not already too late.
Daily Mail
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sydney's Eastern Suburbs rocked by cheating scandal as mystery Range Rover is spray-painted with brutal message
Sydney 's Eastern Suburbs was rocked by a cheating scandal over the weekend after a black luxury Range Rover was vandalised. The eye-popping SUV was first spotted parked at Bondi Beach on Saturday morning, with stunned onlookers quickly whipping out their phones to capture the explosive scene after the word 'cheater' was sprayed boldly across its side in silver paint. Love Island Australia star Aidan Knox was among the first to share the moment to his Instagram Story. Aidan posted a snap of the defaced vehicle with a string of laughing emojis and tagged the location as Bondi. The photo quickly sparked gossip across social media, with many locals claiming to have seen the car parked at various hotspots throughout the day. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Later that afternoon, the vehicle was seen outside Double Bay's Royal Oak Hotel where the drama only escalated. Gym goers and brunchers noticed the windscreen was plastered with an additional message: 'Don't deny it, I have the receipts!' – alongside a QR code. Naturally, curious passersby couldn't resist scanning the code to discover the identity of the alleged love rat, though the person behind the digital reveal remains unknown. Locals say the car was parked in the area for hours for amused onlookers. 'No one could believe it,' one witness told Daily Mail Australia. 'People were scanning the QR code like crazy and filming it for TikTok.' It's unclear who owns the vandalised Range Rover or what sparked the public naming-and-shaming, but online sleuths are already speculating it's linked to Sydney's influencer scene - or maybe it's another PR stunt. Back in 2022, a mystery man called Max likely had some explaining to do as he was confronted with a rather crude message spray-painted onto his house. The Bondi lothario was clearly having a bad day as his possibly now ex-partner decided to vent their fury over his alleged infidelity by spray-painting a rather rude message in black paint in large letters on the wall next to his door. A tickled passerby uploaded a picture of the graffiti to Facebook, where it garnered quite a bit of attention. The message read: 'Max you cheating p****, got what you're given.' One woman wrote: 'Oooft that's gonna cost him', - presumably in more ways than one.' Another helpfully pointed out that his building manager is soon to join the ranks of furious people in Max's life, commenting 'round of drinks on Max for the building manager'.
Powys County Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Award for long-serving Royal Oak Hotel staff member
A long serving staff member of Welshpool's Royal Oak Hotel has been awarded two accolades by the hotel's parent company. Heidi Benbow, a Front of House Supervisor and a familiar friendly face at The Royal Oak Hotel in Welshpool has dual reasons for celebration has she was recognised twice over by the Coaching Inn Group. Her colleagues voted her their Hotel Hero of the Year and she was also awarded the coveted accolade for the whole award-winning Coaching Inn Group, who also operate thirty-four other hotels and inns in market towns across the country. Heidi, who has worked at the hotel for twenty-three years said it was 'wonderful' when her name was announced at the group's annual black-tie awards ceremony attended by some three hundred colleagues and staged at The Engine Shed venue in Lincoln. 'It was wonderful to receive such a vote of appreciation from all my close colleague, but to go on and win the group award was totally unexpected.' Heidi, who was accompanied by her husband Neil, a former General Manager at the hotel, and a group of colleagues said she felt like part of the furniture after such a long spell at The Royal Oak, but still got a huge buzz from welcoming all the regulars and guests from all around the world. Hotel General Manager Laura Hindle added that it was great to know that she always had Heidi's long experienced back-up support at all times during her time at the Royal Oak. Coaching Inn Group Chief Operating Officer Adam Charity said: 'It's clear that Heidi played an invaluable role at The Royal Oak and that she is a most worthy winner of their Group Hotel Hero of the Year Award.'
Powys County Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Hotel in Powys town celebrates after owners win award
Team members at Welshpool's Royal Oak Hotel have celebrated a win for the hotel's owners as it was awarded a top industry accolade. The parent company of the Royal Oak Hotel, located on The Cross in Welshpool, has been named the UK's Best Accommodation provider at The Morning Advertiser's Annual Pub Awards. The Royal Oak team celebrated the win, with Esther Buckley on reception, Zac Salmon, Sue Ridgeway and Chris Ridgeway on housekeeping, Heidi Benbow and Neil Benbow on the front of house, and chefs Joy White and Ryan Desmier, marking the award. Adam Charity, chief operating officer of the Coaching Inn group, which also has 34 other hotels and inns in market towns across the country, said he was delighted. He said: 'We are poised to reopen the iconic Castle of Brecon Hotel after a £3 million refit and are continuously striving to improve our accommodation offering right across the group. 'It's all part of our ethos of providing the best facilities we can at the very heart of all the communities in which we serve. 'The coveted award was a well-deserved recognition of all the commitment and hard work put in by the whole coaching inn family, including our enthusiastic team at The Royal Oak.'
