The Del Hotel & Pub

The Del is a long-running neighbourhood bistro on the corner of Darby Street and Council Street in Cooks Hill, Newcastle. Its offer is broad without straying far from pub and bistro comfort: the menu covers antipasti, starters, rotisserie dishes, grilled meats, pizzas, pasta, salads, kids’ meals and desserts. Food is paired with craft beverages, cold beers, cocktails and a substantial wine list spanning Australian and international bottles.

The menu’s more distinctive features include organic free-range chicken cooked on a French rotisserie oven, a selection of steaks and other grilled cuts, and pizzas made with a high-hydration sourdough base that is cold-fermented for 48 hours before being cooked in an Italian pizza oven. There are also familiar pub choices such as house-crumbed chicken schnitzel, burgers, sausages and mash, along with options including herb-crumbed eggplant parmigiana, a brown rice poke bowl and a honey-roasted pumpkin, beetroot and feta salad. The kids’ menu includes burger, schnitzel, fish and pasta options, while desserts include vanilla brûlée, dark chocolate mousse and coconut panna cotta.

The venue is set up for more than a straightforward lunch or dinner. The website describes a warm, relaxed atmosphere, with multiple bars, live music and DJ sets, and screens showing live sport. There is also a function room for parties and celebrations, making The Del suitable for casual catch-ups as well as larger occasions. Its food-and-drinks format works for groups wanting to share starters and pizzas, families looking for a broad menu, or diners after a drink-led visit with something substantial to eat. The venue also promotes events including bottomless brunches and Two-Up, although specific event details can change.

The Del’s story reaches back to 1924, when Victor Raymond Delany relocated the licence of the Lord Cardigan Hotel to the corner of Darby and Council Streets. The two-storey building was designed by Newcastle architects Pender & Porter, and Victor’s wife, Violet May Delany, continued the business after his death in 1933. After renovations and generations of local trade, the hotel remains part of Newcastle’s hospitality scene. Today, licensee Jacob Flanagan brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience to the venue and describes its focus as food, drinks, live sport and versatility. The Del is rated 4.1 from 875 Google reviews.