Woodport Hotel Opens on the Central Coast | Live Music, Bars & Events

If you think you know the Woodport… think again.

After months behind closed doors, one of the Central Coast’s most iconic pub sites is getting ready to reopen, and this time, it’s doing things very differently. Formerly known as the Sunken Monkey, the venue is reverting to a name closer to its roots, The Woodport Hotel, following a massive $10 million renovation that’s set to completely transform how locals experience live music, nights out, and good old-fashioned pub culture.

And no – this isn’t a quick lick of paint.

The Woodport has been completely reimagined from the ground up, with five bars across three levels, a huge outdoor event space capable of hosting up to 2,000 people and a brand-new, modern and stylish cocktail bar on the upper floor, overlooking Erina Creek. It’s bold, it’s ambitious, and it’s a clear statement that the Central Coast is ready for a live music venue of serious calibre.

Behind the revival are Three Blokes and a Pub – Sean Wagstaff alongside brothers Rodney and Brett Matterson, and for them, this project is deeply personal. Sean is a born-and-bred Coastie who spent more Saturday nights at Woodies than he can count, before going on to manage some of Australia’s most well-known venues, including Sydney’s Bourbon Hotel and hospitality hotspots in Byron Bay. Returning to the Coast in 2019, he helped guide the venue’s sale and then stayed on to help bring it back to life.

For Rodney and Brett, the vision is simple but powerful: bring back the pub as a true community hub. A place where people from all walks of life can come together, switch off from the outside world, and feel part of something bigger. No egos. No old stigmas. Just good vibes, great hospitality and unforgettable nights.

Speaking of shaking off old reputations, if your memories of this venue are stuck in its late-night nightclub era, prepare to be surprised. The basement nightclub Woodies is returning, but in a refreshed, elevated way, still offering last drinks on the Coast thanks to its rare 6am licence. Above it? A mix of spaces designed to suit everyone – from early evening catch-ups to late-night live gigs that roll long after other venues have closed.

The Loft is the aforementioned modern cocktail bar space, an exclusive area designed for those who want to kick on in style. On weekends and during special events, it will have a private entry and limited numbers. This truly is unlike any other space in our region.

Live music is where the Woodport really flexes. The venue officially reopens on February 21, with The Presets headlining the grand opening – a pretty strong signal of what’s to come.

Tickets are already on sale for major upcoming acts, including The Amity Affliction (Saturday, March 7), with more big names locked in and plenty still to be announced.

Add in restaurant-quality pub food from Head Chef Mark Ferraro, whose background spans some of Sydney’s best gastro pubs, and you’ve got a venue that’s aiming well above expectations, all without losing that relaxed, local feel.

Bottom line? The Woodport isn’t trying to be what it used to be. It’s carving out a whole new chapter – one that’s shaping up to put the Central Coast firmly on the live music map.

Old biases officially cancelled.

New memories incoming.

Follow along for launch updates at @woodport_hotel. And visit their new website to check out all the upcoming gigs.

And trust us, this is one reopening you’ll want to see for yourself.

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