Under new management

Press, 28 August 1986, Page 30

Under new management

After extensive internal and external renovations, the Civic Regency, at 198 Manchester Street, will re-open tomorrow, as a function and entertainment centre.

Under the new management of Warren and Michelle Barnes, the emphasis of services will now be to cater for social and business functions of all sizes, rather than the previous use as a cabaretrestaurant with three extensive menus.

"We will welcome bookings for board meetings, cocktail parties, and fashion parades,” Mr Barnes said. “We will even be available for trade exhibitions and motor shows. We are having the southern wall entrance widened to accommodate cars and other big items for shows. “The bookings are already heavy for Christmas social functions, but some dates are still available for December. This is a very busy time of the

year, and most Fridays and Saturdays are very heavily booked until the end of the year,” he said. Inside, Mr Barnes stresses that the white marble dance floor has been kept, and chandeliers from other sections of the building have been relocated around the dance area.

Many of the small rooms in the front of the building have been removed, thus enlarging the ground-floor area, and providing a more spacious effect around the bar for pre-dinner drinks. “The heating system, which has been a problem in the past, has also been extensively renovated, thus guaranteeing a comfortable atmosphere at all times,” Mr Barnes said. “The three-men system has been dropped, and we have employed the services of an Austrian chef, recently arrived from Hobart, who will be able to cater for the needs of any kind of function.

“We will retain some of the Chinese food because this has proved very popular in the past. So, our buffets will still include some oriental dishes.

“There will be no overall theme for our catering. Instead, we will give the people what they want.

“When our Friday and Saturday evenings are not booked ahead, we also intend to keep our dine-and-dance cabaret spectaculars, with lavish, multi-choice buffet meals, open to the public at $25 per head,” Mr Barnes said.

“Our upstairs rooms are also still available for board meetings, as sample rooms for sales displays, and other purposes.

“We have also retained the Regency room on the first floor, which has proved suitable as an elegant setting for wedding receptions,” Mr Barnes said.