Riviera Yacht Club celebrates official opening

Australia’s largest and most awarded luxury boat builder, Riviera has helped transform its ideally positioned restaurant and bar on the edge of the Coomera River into the Riviera Yacht Club.

Veteran hoteliers and passionate boaters, Robin and Barbara Davies, and their daughter Chelsie Brett celebrated the official opening of the Riviera Yacht Club restaurant and bar with a weekend-long palate pleasing party held over two days on April 21 and 22.

The celebrations began with a Saturday night VIP invitation only party for 80 people, which was hosted by television news presenter Bruce Paige.  Riviera CEO Wes Moxey addressed the enthusiastic crowd and congratulated Robin, Barbara and Chelsie on their efforts in establishing the new Riviera Yacht Club, something a great many Riviera owners have been looking forward to.

An Open Day followed on Sunday where more than 200 people enjoyed breakfast or lunch with complimentary hors d’ oeuvres, live music, giveaways and the chance to win dining gift vouchers.

Chelsie said the atmosphere was electric and it was great to see so many people supporting the Yacht Club.

“We pride ourselves on high quality food at attractive prices and our enviable location on the Coomera River provides a relaxed dining experience,” she said.

The word Riviera is synonymous with quality, heritage and luxury boating, which inspired Chelsie Brett and her parents to open the modern nautical themed Riviera Yacht Club waterfront restaurant and bar.

Riviera CEO Wes Moxey said the Riviera Yacht Club had been warmly embraced by Riviera owners and the wider community.

“It is a truly unique venue right by the water and in the heart of Australia’s largest luxury boat building facility, so for those who love boats and enjoy waterfront dining, the Riviera Yacht Club is the ultimate waterside venue overlooking the best boats in the world here at Coomera,” Mr Moxey said.

Robin’s love of boating and all things nautical led him to become an active committee member of the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club, in which he dedicated 30 years.  Robin also has a passion for the hospitality industry and he and Barbara have more than 50 years combined experience between them.  In 2009, they made the Gold Coast their home, a move which brought them closer to their family and gave Robin the chance to pursue his life-long passion for boating. 

Chelsie, like her father, has salt in her veins and as avid boat owners, Robin and Chelsie understand that there are few places on the Gold Coast where people can arrive by boat and enjoy a relaxed and quality dining experience.

Call it a chance encounter, fate or destiny but when Robin discovered the waterfront restaurant at last year’s Gold Coast International Marine Expo he instantly saw the potential to create a very unique dining experience for boaters.

“I didn’t want to just open up another bar.  We thought the Riviera Yacht Club would be perfect for the venue.  We are going to run the restaurant as an incorporated Yacht Club and offer memberships to patrons, which will attract dining discounts and invitations to events,” he said.

The restaurant features two decks for relaxed dining while soaking up the ambience of this tranquil location.  An upper level relaxed lounge-style café/tapas bar is surrounded by Riviera’s maritime history, including a full wall mural of the historic Riviera 38 Open Flybridge, the very first Riviera to be built and launched in 1980 in Sydney.  This was the boat that started the Riviera legenc.  The contemporary maritime themed décor flows through to the lower deck, which offers seated á la carte dining right on the water’s edge.  Offering an Australian-Asian inspired menu designed by highly regarded Executive Chef, Trevour Hayes.

Trevour has more than 15 years industry experience in some of Queensland’s most iconic restaurants including, George’s Paragon Seafood Restaurant, The Elephant and Wheelbarrow, and Amici’s.

“Trevour has a great attitude and shares our philosophy.  His menu ideas are fantastic and include several mouth-watering dishes, such as Chicken Ballantine, Riviera Sand Crab Ravioli, Garlic Bugs, Crusted Eggplant and Zucchini, Madras Vegetables, the Riviera Hamburger, Riviera Caesar Salad and the Banana Millefuille,” Chelsie said.

The Riviera Yacht Club offers plenty of secure onsite parking inside Riviera’s security gated complex and berths are right outside the restaurant for those wishing to arrive by boat.

The Riviera Yacht Club is open seven days for breakfast and lunch, and dinner on Thursday and Friday, as well as catering for special functions such as weddings and corporate events.

Riviera owners who present their ‘Owners Card’ will receive a discount at the restaurant as well as automatic Yacht Club membership.

The Riviera Yacht Club is located at 50 Waterway Drive, Coomera.  To make a booking phone 07 5561 8822 or visitwww.rivierayachtclub.com.au