Rick Stein on Opening a Restaurant in Coogee
Some celebrity chefs divide opinions or appeal mainly to specific audiences, but Rick Stein is widely loved. The renowned UK chef and TV personality has been a familiar figure on Australia's east coast dining scene for over 15 years, visiting so frequently that he is almost an unofficial Aussie citizen.
Stein’s Australian Restaurants
Rick Stein already operates two successful restaurants in New South Wales. He launched Bannisters by the Sea in Mollymook in 2009, followed by Bannisters Port Stephens in 2018. For several years, there was no hint that he planned to expand further in Australia.
New Venture in Sydney
Earlier this year, it was announced that Stein and his wife Sarah ("Sas") are opening a new 224-seat restaurant, Rick Stein at Coogee Beach, located in the new InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach. This move promises to bring his signature simple yet spectacular seafood to Sydney's Eastern Suburbs summer dining scene.
Working with Salter Brothers
“The truth of it is that the two Bannisters hotels and my restaurants were taken over by [investment management group] Salter Brothers in October last year,” Stein says. “And that was a bit of a surprise. But actually starting to work with Salter Brothers, I realised how professional they were and how much I liked working with them.”
The collaboration with Salter Brothers has been unexpectedly positive, highlighting their professionalism and making the partnership enjoyable for Stein.
Author's Summary
Rick Stein’s new Coogee Beach restaurant marks an exciting chapter, blending his love for simple seafood with a professional partnership that promises to enrich Sydney’s dining scene.