Woodport Hotel, one of the Central Coast’s biggest new venues
The Central Coast is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, so it makes sense that we’ve just welcomed one of NSW’s largest venues. You might have heard people calling it a ‘reopening’ – but that doesn’t begin to cover it. Sure, the Woodport Hotel takes its name from the old Woodport Inn that used to call the 4,000sqm site home – but it’s been completely rebuilt, and there’s really no comparison.
The black facade is long gone, replaced with timber panelling and exposed brick, which immediately feels more welcoming. Inside you’ll find an impressive three-level venue with five bars, a massive deck overlooking Erina Creek and a late-night cocktail space. The Woodport Hotel is more than a simple pub, it’s a – dare we say it – destination, somewhere that works from day to night.
The main bar and bistro downstairs set the scene – bright and spacious, with huge windows, two bars and three different dining areas. The highlight has to be that gorgeous sun-drenched deck, with a high ceiling to make it feel super spacious and heaters to keep things cosy in winter.
We’ll definitely be locking in a few lunch meetings here.
The pub is open from 10am daily – perfect for tradies or anyone in the surrounding industrial area to grab a mid-morning coffee that may or may not roll straight into lunch… then arvo drinks… then dinner. As we said, it just works.
The Central Coast’s new late-night cocktail bar
If you’re coming on a Friday or Saturday night – and we recommend you do – you’ll want to head upstairs to The Loft.
This is the real drawcard for the Central Coast – a cocktail lounge that stays open late, with floor-to-ceiling windows over the creek, two bars and enough space for an impromptu dancefloor. It’s spacious without ever feeling empty, with rich decor creating a speakeasy vibe.
“We’ve seen an explosion in restaurants, bars and pubs across the region in recent years, but there hasn’t been anywhere for people to go afterwards, when they’re not ready for the night to end,” owner Sean Wagstaff said.
And it would be rude not to try one of their signature cocktails – maybe the Wing Man, made with Woodford Reserve and mint, or the Amelia, served with tequila, cointreau, agave, grapefruit, lime and jalapenos?
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Now, if you’re keeping count, there’s still one level to go – and this one’s still in the works.
The basement will welcome back the Central Coast’s only nightclub, Woodies! It’ll be as slick as the rest of the Woodport Hotel, and we can’t wait for a peek.
Elevated pub food in Erina
So the venue is impressive, to say the least – but what about the menu?
Sydney chef Mark Ferraro built a menu available from open to late, and it’s good. The kind of good that doesn’t need any more adjectives because the food speaks for itself.
There’s pub classics like burgers, schnitty and steak alongside a selection of share plates including burrata pizzette, yellowfin tuna tostado and merguez lamb skewers, plus a dedicated grill, woodfired pizzas and a decent kids menu.
Woodport Hotel: Food, Bars and Live Music on the Central Coast
There’s also a clear focus on live music, with the venue set up to handle crowds of up to 2,000 and a regular lineup already locked in.
“We’re also excited to bring back a bit of the ‘80s and ‘90s, when live music reigned supreme in regional venues,” owner Brett Matterson said. Hear, hear!
At its core, the Woodport Hotel is a meeting place – somewhere people can connect over an arvo beer, a midweek dinner or a Saturday night out, moving between spaces rather than having to change venues altogether.
And if you’ve driven past lately, you’ll know – that’s exactly what’s happening.
The Woodport Hotel
207 The Entrance Road, Erina
woodporthotel.com.au
The Woodport is coming back, and it’s nothing like you remember
January 2026
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.
Trust us, this is one reopening you’ll want to see for yourself.
Visit the new Woodport Hotel website to check out all the upcoming gigs.
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