There’s a quiet country town in Victoria’s northeast, where the King and Ovens Rivers meet, that is far from familiar with film crews descending upon it. Wangaratta residents were baffled by the presence of Channel Seven cameras, but as the latest episode of Kitchen Nightmares reveals, it was for an amazing cause.
Wangaratta’s Bull’s Head Hotel was the latest institution to receive the Kitchen Nightmares overhaul with Colin Fassnidge. In the heart of this rural city, this iconic restaurant was not presenting as its best and understandably so, considering the Bull’s Head Hotel has a long and rich history. According to local historians, the Hotel dates back to the 1860s with a few prominent publicans owning it over its many years.
Pictures curtesy of Channel 7
While it has stood the test of time and has been much loved by locals, the café’s owners wanted it to evolve into a place people visited from far and wide. Colin and his team swooped in to analyse the pub fare classics with the chicken schnitzels and woodfired pizzas remaining on the menu but given a modern edge. Belinda’s delicious desserts weren’t going anywhere, so when you visit, make sure to leave space for her famous chocolate roulade.
ChairForce was asked to supply, again to overhaul the rickety dining furniture that were almost as old as the Hotel itself. Perfect for the fast pace of television, ChairForce was able to quickly supply Channel Seven with ideal replacements that fit the classic style of the hotel.
In an act of serendipity, the chairs supplied were born in the same era as the Hotel itself. The Brigitte No 18 Bentwood Bar Stools came to life in the 1860s and became legendary as the chair’s designer Thonet threw one off the top of the Eiffel Tower to demonstrate their durability. No bystanders were injured in this outlandish publicity stunt but sad to say, the chair itself did not survive the monumental fall. However, the stool’s solid timber frame has reached icon status thanks to its enduring style, durability, and versatility. The beautiful rustic feel creates the perfect backdrop for any classic hotel and shines at this venue.
Our Diego Folding Bar Table was brought in too, easy to manoeuvre and store away with its flip-top table and staggered leg design. These tables are high pressure laminated, so they can cope with frothy spills and are easy to clean, which is vital in a high turnover section of a hotel.
As locals delight over their favourite hotel’s transformation, check out the Bull’s Head Hotel & its Bistro next time you’re in this beautiful region. Don’t forget to save room for dessert – you’ll thank us later!
To see the Channel 7 episodes go to 7Plus: https://7plus.com.au/kitchen-nightmares-australia
View Bull’s Head Bistro on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057875250793
