What has an eclectic mix of fishing rods on the ceiling, a whale on the wall and a boat in dry dock?

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Answer: the new look Tea Gardens Hotel.

And that’s just some of the changes afoot for the pub.

Local tradesman Graham Winn and offsider Simon Smith were busy last week creating a new look cafe and eating area.

“I’ve got this fantastic coffee machine going in and we’ll be doing great breakfasts from 7am,” owner Ben Hanson said.

Outside there’s another innovation in the form of a massive pizza oven under construction.

“We’ve had to stop the outdoor Argentinian barbecue pit for the time being because of the fire ban, but it will be back next year,” Ben said.

Ben was forced to concede in regards to one change that wasn’t going down well with the pub’s patrons.

“We’ve brought back the calamari cone, it’s now called Graham’s famous calamari cone,” Ben said.

Local Graham Pollock started the calamari campaign on Facebook.

“I said if I got 150 likes on the Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest Community Facebook page I’d bring it back and I got over 200 hits so it’s back, social media working at its best.”

As for settling into small town life after the big smoke of Sydney, ”It’s insane I’ve never worked so hard in my life.”

‘’It’s stressful but I love it, and so does Emily.”

By Margie TIERNEY