Hospitality operators Ben May and Rob Domjen have announced the formation of Pavilion Venue Co., following their joint acquisition of Newcastle’s Merewether Surfhouse.

Pavilion Venue Co. brings together Burleigh Pavilion on the Gold Coast, Terrigal Pavilion on the NSW Central Coast, The Joey at Palm Beach and now Merewether Surfhouse.

May and Domjen are both keen surfers and the common thread for each venue is a focus on waterfront locations within established coastal communities.

Domjen said: “We’ve never set out with a plan to build venues up and down the coast. We’re simply drawn to great sites on the water, in communities where the beach is part of everyday life.

“What connects Burleigh, Terrigal, Palm Beach and now Merewether isn’t a formula, it’s a sense of place. We want to create venues that feel like they belong to their communities, rather than something that could be picked up and dropped anywhere.” 

The three-level Merewether Surfhouse occupies a landmark position directly opposite Merewether Beach and currently encompasses the Surfhouse Restaurant, the Beach Bar, rooftop bar, event spaces and a beach promenade kiosk.

May and Domjen will take over operations in October 2026, with Merewether Surfhouse continuing to trade largely as it does today through summer and until February 2027. During this period, the pair said they plan to spend time getting to know the venue, its team and the local community, with only minor changes to the food and beverage offering, styling and programming anticipated ahead of the larger redevelopment.

Current plans will see Merewether Surfhouse close from February 2027 to undergo a significant renovation, before reopening as Merewether Pavilion in mid-to-late 2027.

While the full vision for Merewether Pavilion is still being developed, May and Domjen have confirmed that The Tropic, the coastal dining concept established at Burleigh Pavilion, will form part of the new food and beverage offering. Further concepts, details of the renovation and project collaborators will be revealed in time.

May said: “Merewether Surfhouse is one of those opportunities that doesn’t come along very often. It’s an incredible position overlooking one of Australia’s great beaches, but what really appealed to us is the place it already holds in the community.

“Our ambition is to build on that. We’ll spend the first few months listening and getting to know the venue before we make any major changes, then take the time to create a Merewether Pavilion that locals are genuinely proud to call their own.”

While May and Domjen said they remain open to future acquisitions, their immediate focus is firmly on Merewether.

May Hospitality acquires Merewether Surfhouse