Change of culinary direction at Tower Lodge

 

There's a new chef, a new menu and a new name for the restaurant at Hunter Valley luxury retreat Tower Lodge.

It is farewell to Sebastian - the short-lived Spanish-themed eatery - and hello to what will simply be known as the restaurant at Tower Lodge.

Much-travelled chef Anthony Fullerton is the new man on the pans after being appointed head chef of the Hope Estate Group.

Both Tower Lodge and Hope Estate - with its cellar door, distillery, craft brewery and concert amphitheatre - are owned by the Hope family, 

Fullerton will focus on Hunter Valley produce, including beef and greens grown on the family’s properties, alongside produce sourced from local small farms and suppliers.

Fullerton was most recently known for having opened the acclaimed Bull & Bell Steakhouse in Griffith, and being named  Australian Hotels Association Australian Chef of the Year in 2022. 

The Hope family has its own cattle farm in the Barrington Valley farm in the Upper Hunter, which are then brought to the pastures adjacent to Hope Estate for a 40-day grain-based feed up.

Fullerton is keen to introduce a dry-aging facility onsite and to try raising different breeds of beef and lambs for diversity. He is keen to build a house-made charcuterie line and also has plans for a smokehouse.

“With the Hunter’s rich and diverse food bowl delivering such a wide variety of premium produce, we are all about celebrating the products themselves – we let the food do the talking and add sauces and salts, as well as side dishes to really allow the hero produce to shine,” he said.

“At Tower Lodge restaurant we prefer to offer shared plates to dedicate each course to a whole cut of beef, fish or cut of lamb, and if creates both a real sense of conviviality and a spirit of generosity.” 

For bookings and info see www.towerlodge.com.au or call (02) 4998 7022. 

Image: Jonathan Carroll

Spicers Tower Lodge: The Hunter Valley says hello to an old friend

The Hunter Valley will welcome back an old friend when Tower Lodge in Pokolbin re-opens as Spicers Tower Lodge from July 1.

After a $6 million renovation, the new-look lodge is ready to open up to visitors again.

Tower Estate was first launched in 1999 by Australian wine legend Len Evans AO OBE and some business partners.

The exclusive retreat is built in a modern Spanish mission style and will now be home to Sebastian - a Basque-style restaurant.

David Assef, Spicers Retreats managing director, says: “We are honoured to be the new custodians of this iconic property. Tower Lodge has a wonderfully earthy and natural design, it’s in harmony with the changing seasons around it, as the vines bud, flower and eventually drop their leaves for a winter display.”

Spicers Tower Lodge will be the third Spicers Retreat in the Pokolbin area, joining Spicers Vineyards Estate and Spicers Guesthouse.

The 14 rooms at Spicers Tower Lodge all feature a large bedroom, lounge, dressing room and new bathtubs, while some have a private courtyard, open fireplace, or outdoor hot tub, from which to view the vineyards.

Sebastian Restaurant is inspired by San Sebastian in Spain, famous for its many pintxos bars and starred restaurants.

Sebastian offers a five-course set menu, which will change daily on a four-day cycle, with a different premium meat presented three ways as the main course each night.

The winter ‘game and forest’ menu features trout, squab, roe deer and wild boar - certainly something different for the Hunter but likely to be polarising.

The Hunter region’s 200-year wine heritage is on full display at Tower Lodge, supported by iconic Spanish varietals, including albariño, tempranillo, Grenache and gently sparkling Txakoli with notes of apple and citrus, which dances on your palette as Sebastian’s flavours of Basque country fill your senses.

You will find Spicers Tower Lodge on the corner of Broke and Halls Roads; a two-hour drive from Sydney or one hour from Newcastle. Sydney Airport is 190km away, Newcastle Airport is 80km. Transfers are available upon request.

A Hunter Valley favourite to make its return

The Hunter Valley will soon welcome the return of an old favourite after Tower Estate lodge and winery in Pokolbin has been reimagined with a $6m renovation, expected to be completed by June 2022.

Two family-owned businesses that share a passion for the wine region, Spicers Retreats and Tower Estate, owned by Michael and Karen Hope of nearby Hope Estate, have announced their plans for Spicers Tower Lodge in the heart of Hunter Valley wine country.

 

“Hope Estate shares much with Spicers Retreats,” said Michael Hope (above), the owner of Hope Estate Wines. “We’ve both worked to do something wonderful with our piece of heaven in the Hunter, and draw in more people seeking somewhere to enjoy life to the fullest.

 

“We each bring something unique to the partnership. Spicers have perfected their brand of relaxed luxury, and we’re the custodians of Tower Estate. This area is my family’s lifeblood.”

 

The Hope Estate winery, brewery and distillery in Pokolbin is set in spectacular grounds, and home to Australia’s largest winery concert amphitheatre.

 

Spicers Tower Lodge will be the third Spicers Retreat in the area, joining Spicers Vineyards Estate and Spicers Guesthouse. Each retreat compliments the region and offers a very different experience.

 

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with the Hope family to restore Tower Estate,” said David Assef, Spicers Retreats managing director. “It’s a great opportunity for all of us to bring back an iconic lodge drawing on its history and creating something special together.

“We have ambitious plans for the Lodge and function space. The buildings will have that sense of place and a strong connection to the landscape, with plentiful natural materials and colours. 

"Spicers Tower Lodge will be a new way to experience the flavour and landscapes of the beautiful Hunter Valley tapping into the world-class wines of the region and working alongside Australia’s best chefs and restaurateurs in the region.” 

Founded by Jude Turner in 2002, Spicers Retreats has grown its portfolio to nine luxury retreats and eight fine-dining restaurants across Queensland and New South Wales. It also operates the iconic Scenic Rim Trail, Queensland’s only Great Walk of Australia.