A nine-month renovation of Collingwoods Robert Burns Hotel is nearing completion for owner Colonial Leisure Group, which has kept the Spanish soul of the iconic Smith Street pub. Previous owner Urbano Gutierrez turned the old-fashioned drinking hole into an Iberian oasis when he took over in 1982 - and Colonial Leisure decided not to throw the baby out with the bathwater after buying it 2 years ago. Now, after a lengthy makeover, it is poised to throw open the doors of a revitalised Robbie Burns. There will be a tapas bar at the front of the restaurant serving traditional Spanish food with a seafood slant. The chef is Santander native Ivan Saiz, who was introduced to his new bosses through the Spanish consulate. The opening date is September 19th.
Article by Robert Burns
