Full house as Wests Tamworth reopens after $34 million transformation

West Tamworth League Club was completely full by the time the Melbourne Cup ran on Tuesday, 3 November, as members got their first look at a $34 million transformation that finished on time and just under budget.

The reopening marks the end of stage two of Wests Entertainment Group’s four-stage master plan, and the club’s first major refurbishment since 1994.

“The date to open on Melbourne Cup day was set many months ago by the CEO, and the challenge was met by a very hard-working project team,” said Wests Entertainment Group Chief Communications Officer Paddy Donnelly.

“The day itself went perfectly, with the club being completely full by the time the big race rolled around.”

“Members and guests shared loads of positive feedback regarding the new space, and our staff adapted well to their new surroundings.”

“All in all, it was a great day to re-open.”

The centrepiece of the redevelopment is the new Legends Lounge, where an 11-metre bar now stretches across the wall where the Legends stage once stood. The stage itself has returned to its original home on the side of the lounge.

“Live music is the backbone of Wests Entertainment Group and it was incredibly important to bring back a space for local and touring artists to perform,” Mr Donnelly said.

“The more seasoned Wests member would remember the stage being on the side of the lounge area, where it has now returned, and perhaps some of the legendary artists such as Keith Urban and Cold Chisel who played there.”

“The stage is set and ready for the next up and coming stars to leave their mark on Legends Lounge.”

Free live music will be a regular fixture in the new space.

“Free live music is returning to Legends Lounge this Saturday and will continue as a weekly club activity,” he said.

“All genres are welcome at Wests, and we pride ourselves on delivering great live music experiences for all audiences.”

The lounge will also be home to a 10-metre sports screen showing the big matches, races, and main events.

“This will be one of the largest screens in town and a very exciting feature for the area,” Mr Donnelly said.

During construction, the entire club operated out of Blazes Showroom. Bingo, raffles, the café, big-screen sport, and live music all ran from the one room, along with a restaurant working out of a shipping container kitchen.

“Seems like a strange dream now to think we operated the club completely out of Blazes, but the team managed it well in the end,” Mr Donnelly said.

“It was cozy, but it was a means to an end, and we are well and truly enjoying being back in our new club.”

“The Wests team and our members adapted well and maybe one day we will look back with fond memories of being in there, but not yet.”

With the club back in its own space, Blazes is once again a venue in its own right.

“Blazes Showroom is now back in action and we are eagerly awaiting the announcement of our upcoming ticketed shows in this space,” he said.

The old bistro has been replaced by Harvest Kitchen, run by Porterhouse Group, with a new open-plan kitchen.

“It was very important to us to increase our dining offering, and Harvest Kitchen has done that,” Mr Donnelly said.

“Led by the fantastic Porterhouse Group team, this bistro has already been a huge hit with members and guests.”

Diners can now watch the chefs at work.

“Being able to see into the kitchen now gives diners a level of trust in the cooking processes and cleanliness of the area – and gives us the opportunity to show off our new stone pizza oven which is a feature in itself,” he said.

The former Nero’s Café has also been reborn as Gather & Co.

“The aim of the café is in the name – it is a place for friends, family and colleagues to gather and enjoy a quick meal, snack or a coffee,” Mr Donnelly said.

“The new display cabinet is full of housemade pastries and cakes, with the kitchen delivering quick meals for smaller appetites of visitors on the go.”

Smoky’s Restaurant, a long-time favourite at Wests Diggers, will open in the club’s former function room.

“Smoky’s is a Tamworth favourite and we are excited to bring it over the bridge to its new home at Wests,” Mr Donnelly said.

“While people will remember the name, and the spirit of the restaurant, everything else will be greatly improved and service will be on a whole new level to what we have delivered at Wests before.”

“We will receive the keys to Smoky’s in December and we are planning to open the bookings following the Country Music Festival.”

Members will also notice new Members Rewards kiosks at the front doors of all three Wests clubs. Members can swipe or scan their cards to check their membership status, renew or update their details, check their rewards points, and receive entries into member promotions. The kiosks link with the new Wests mobile phone app.

Next on the Wests calendar is Tamworth Brewfest, run by West Tamworth League Club, at Scully Park Regional Sporting Precinct on Saturday, 21 November.

The Terrys will headline, with Splashpool as the late-night party band, alongside breweries, distilleries, food trucks, and more live music. Gates open from 5pm to 10:30pm, and under 18s enter free with a responsible adult. A Meet the Brewers event will be held on Friday, 20 November.

Second release tickets are $35 until 20 November, with final release tickets $40 on the day. Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/TamBrewfest.

Then comes the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January, the first for the new-look club.

“We have a full program as per usual this Festival, with all the best acts spread out across our many stages,” Mr Donnelly said.

At Wests, the program will run across the Event Centre, Blazes for ticketed gigs, and Legends Lounge, which will host free entertainment from open to close every day of the festival. At Wests Diggers, ticketed events will be held in the Showroom upstairs, with free entertainment in Scores Bar and Courtyard downstairs.

“The Courts will be a place of refuge for locals trying to get away from the music for a few hours through the week, with regular live entertainment slots filled on weekends up there,” he said.

Stages three and four of the master plan will see Blazes Showroom refurbished and an extension of around 30 rooms added to the 52-room Mercure Hotel.

“I can’t commit to any exact dates, but Blazes may start as soon as next year,” Mr Donnelly said.

“Let’s get through the Country Music Festival and see how we go after that!”