A Bayside icon returns | Unveiling the revitalised Grand View Hotel

Ushering a Grand old dame back into the spotlight

Poised to unveil its multi-million-dollar makeover of the heritage-listed Grand View Hotel, Kickon Group engaged Aruga to reintroduce the iconic bayside pub to loyal locals and a new generation of visitors.

The brief was simple: make a big splash, honour the pub’s rich history dating back to 1852, and reignite love for the “old dame” while placing it firmly on the radar of new audiences. Aruga’s media and influencer strategy built buzz, sparked conversation and made the reopening feel unmissable.

The campaign generated strong coverage across lifestyle, food and local media, securing 47 media clippings that reached more than two million people and were amplified through curated influencer visits.

By uncovering rare historic imagery and pairing it with the venue’s fresh new look, we created a narrative that blended nostalgia with new energy. The result was a relaunch that felt less like an opening and more like a homecoming, firmly re-establishing the Grand View Hotel as a true bayside icon.

Results

47

total clips

2,232,304

potential audience reach

5

hosted influencer visits

Deliverables

Copywriting

Told the comeback story with media materials that bottled the history, glow-up and excitement of the Grand View’s big return.

Media Relations

Worked our media magic, crafting irresistible pitches and landing standout coverage across food, lifestyle, travel and local news.

Influencer Engagement

Brought the right creators through the doors to eat, drink and share the hype, fuelling social buzz around the reopening.

Winning Tactics

Aruga rolled out a high-impact press strategy packed with throwback imagery, fresh build renders, standout quotes and irresistible talent to land premium media coverage.

Aruga tapped into Brisbane’s food and lifestyle creator scene, inviting them in to eat, sip and soak up the glow-up firsthand, then share it with their audiences.

Fast-moving comms and slick coordination helped Aruga lock in big-ticket wins, including radio interviews and TV segments with the venue’s star talent.