Our Story

welcome to the Royal Hotel Cassilis!

built in 1870 & reopened in July 2020.

We fell in love at first sight with this beautiful sandstone pub, and we are sure you will too.  Situated in the tiny village of Cassilis, 1 km off the Golden Highway in the Westmost corner of the Upper Hunter Shire, we opened with the simple credo “Cold Beer, Good Food, Comfy Beds”.

In the years since, we are proud to have established an enviable reputation for great food, a well-appointed bar with an excellent top shelf, and clean and comfortable rooms with a homey living space for guests to relax.  We have extended our capacity with a spacious marquee, added extra accommodation options in other buildings, and continue to bring this magnificent old pub back to its former glory.

We source produce and beverages as locally as is practical, use local trades, and believe in community and being part of that community, supporting local sports, events, and initiatives.  We source & hire locally – and there are some great local superstars. We also get a thrill from restoring the details of the pub and using found objects and materials to bring the old girl back to her former glory.

We love the adventure that is the Royal Hotel Cassilis and look forward to you joining us on the ride.

What people are saying.

  • "Friendly, historic and delicious! Good (great!) wine. I had the steak sandwich and holy heck - it’s good! The sourdough is fresh and airy without being stodgy. The condiments are flavour packed and home made which makes it taste even better. The chips were piping hot and crispy. YUM. Totally worth the very short detour off the highway. ”

    — Sally Mayberry

  • “Erika and Sean were perfect hosts, great menu, back bar, comfortable room. A lovely hidden gem with lots of charm.”

    — Christian Kauter

  • “You know an establishment is good when the township doubles every weekend and you need to make a booking to ensure you get a table. The owners and staff have brought the old sandstone pub to life with their hospitality and the meals are second to none. There's a great range of spirits, beers, wine and cocktails. Food is sourced as locally as possible. The accommodation looks great. Highly recommended!.”

    — Dim Martin