Mossman wine bar ready for business
Private functions mainly
While pubs and Mossman go well together, wine bars and Mossman doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Yet it’s become a reality thanks to one of our most industrious local entrepreneurs.
Mossman Hotel, Barrier Reef Tavern and Bottle-O Mossman owner Paul McMahon is adding yet another property to his portfolio. It’s a wine bar called Hughie’s, located in Front Street, Mossman. While it’s part of the Mossman Hotel complex, don’t just drop in, because this classy bar is never going to be your local watering hole. There’s plenty of other joints in the Shire to fill that important role. No, you’ll have to book a function there or drop in on the Friday night window of opportunity.
A 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Paul wanted something special for the discerning amongst us “There are a number of locals that don’t drink in the pubs as it is not their style but are starved for choice when it comes to a high-end destination” he said. Although it’s called a wine bar, cocktails will also be available. There’s already been one function at the bar. It was christened with a wedding reception and things went off without a hitch. Word is starting to spread; a local school has booked the bar for an end of year staff event and a Melbourne Cup function for seventy people is also locked in.
Replaced cycle shop
The wine bar is in the old Mossman Cycle Sports shop which needed some massive TLC. It was completely gutted inside and what greets the eye is something spectacular. It was certainly a ‘wow’ moment for me as Paul gave a me a guided tour of the classy premises. You get the feeling this bloke doesn’t skimp on anything “Everything we do we try to do it first class, spend money, do it once and do it properly,” said Paul. His company purchased the building 3 years ago, at which time he and wife Susie set out to create a beautiful space and they’ve succeeded in spectacular fashion. Where possible, local trades people and materials were used “An example of that is Chris Jenkin from Galaxi Homes who did an amazing job with our vision of what the bar should look like”. Mossman’s Richard Davis did all the upholstery work and Hatfield Electrical were the sparkies on the project. A beer garden at the back was designed and landscaped by John Sullivan from Hortulus Port Douglas.
A relaxed space
What will hit you immediately as you walk in is the ambience, a warm relaxed space with the timbers accentuating that. The bar top for example is white mahogany and the steel beams disguised with New Guinea Rosewood. Back in early 2021 Council approval of the application for the wine bar was unanimous with all Councillors expressing their support for the venture. At the time Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said, “It is great to see people having confidence in the region and taking the risk to put money into a new development and open a new business in Mossman”. Hear, hear! Mossman is slowly but surely making a name for itself outside of sugar. It’s a credit to everyone with a business there helping to make Mossman a more attractive town for visitors and locals alike. Tapas will be the food of choice for the bar. It will be cooked on stoves that are having a second life. They come from the iconic ‘On the Inlet’ restaurant in Port Douglas that shut its doors for good during Covid. I’m sure owners Alison Diamond and Geoff Parmenter would be very happy the stoves and cook tops have found a good home.
Accommodation upstairs
Above the bar, is accommodation for staff. All of us know just how hard it is to find digs for staff these days, but the canny Paul McMahon has that well and truly covered “Before we started working on it, this space was appalling, but now it’s fully renovated, with rooms, a bathroom and kitchen for staff to use, the only thing we need is more staff” he said. Paul isn’t Robinson Crusoe; staff shortages is still a massive problem for businesses everywhere.
Paul’s Journey
Paul McMahon grew up in Park Orchards, 23 km north-east of Melbourne. He was attracted to hotel management from an early age and travelled to Sydney to manage pubs for 4 years. Strangely one of the hotels he managed was the Bridgepoint Tavern at Mosman, the other Mossman with one ‘s’. His next stop was the historic Orient Hotel at the Rocks where he was the 23-year-old licensee. Then onto the Marlborough Hotel in King Street Newtown. He then joined CUB (Carlton United Breweries) and worked in several places in Queensland, including Cairns. Then back to Melbourne with CUB to look after Woolworths and Coles. After 16 years it was time to move on. Paul then joined the Independent Distillers organisation which was ultimately purchased by Asahi who ended up buying CUB. It had come full circle. Paul then found himself redundant. Here he was out of work with a wife, four children and a mortgage, but this small bump in the road only spurred him on to get some sort of independence in the hospitality and retail sectors. It was decided the family would start their monopoly set by selling their home and buying a pub. But where? Where was there an opportunity? Maybe Brisbane? No, the numbers didn’t stack up there. Mossman Hotel came up for sale and the numbers did stack up in a town where there was potential for growth. A renovated Mossman Hotel proved to be a great investment. Then a Bottle-O next to Woolies at Mossman. Another canny move because in only their second year it won best bottle shop in Queensland and did so for the next three years. A takeover of the Barrier Street Tavern and a spruce up once again proved if you give people what they want you can’t help but be successful. Paul McMahon is also the landlord of Kai, a restaurant on Reef Street next to the tavern, which has been kicking goals in its own right. Now the Hughie’s Wine Bar in Mossman, which is almost guaranteed to be a roaring success. Paul is chuffed that Bundaberg has created a special rum for his bar called ‘Undertakers Blend’, I dare not ask for the origins of that one.
To the name
Hughie’s gets its name from a mate of George Elphinstone Dalrymple, an early Australian explorer, colonist, public servant, and politician. The Mossman River was named by Dalrymple on 6 December 1873 in tribute to his close friend Hugh Mossman. The town of Mossman takes its name from the river. Hugh was a mine owner and politician in Queensland. He discovered gold in Charters Towers. Hugh Mossman was also known as a bit of a bit of a larrikin, so he was chosen to carry the wine bar name. In the very near future Hughie’s will open on Friday nights from 4pm till midnight and be available for private functions. For bookings (07) 4098 2417.
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