Hotel Gearin

the Gearin Hotel is mis-managed by morons. Everything about the place is problematic! it has chronic maintenance /licensing issues, and only the most basic accommodation. It is a dead zone. nobody of any good goes there. That's about as politely as i can put it.

This is an ex-pub. It has been converted into the unlikely combination of a coffee shop and a toy shop. No accommodation. No beers or alcohol. The coffee is supposed to be OK, a few people from the nearby courthouse pop in on the odd occasion. Many locals avoid it on the basis that the owner has deprived the community of a valuable "town square"... bought the building as a pub (the oldest in Katoomba) and then closed it. By all means, pop in and try the coffee. But don't expect a pub, a pub-lilke atmosphere, or a gaggle of locals.

Upon first glance, this hotel appears to be a dilapidated reminder of a by-gone era. But when you walk inside you feel a sense of grandeur. With decadent timber detailing, bold geometric carpets and tall ceilings with stained glass domes, it is a truly a marvellous building. We stayed in a simple en-suite room. It was clean, warm and extremely reasonably priced. A man called Keith acquired the lease recently and hopes to restore the hotel and the pub (now a coffee shop) below to its former glory. We can’t wait to see what’s in store. It was an interesting and unique experience and would highly recommend for a quick overnight trip from Sydney.