Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Most of us love a beer, and there's nothing better than a local beer. I'm pleased to say that last Friday the King Tide Brewpub, Coffs Harbour's first-ever pub brewery, swung its doors open. Founder and beer enthusiast Josh King was obviously born with beer in his blood. He worked in Sydney as a young student engineer at Tooheys Brewery, but Josh had a desire to move his family back to his home town of Coffs Harbour. Since then, both Josh and Lucy King have worked tirelessly to convert the old mechanic shed in Studio Lane into something really special. They designed the entire venue around their functioning brewery, bringing people into the brewery experience. It has an open-plan beer garden, as you would expect; a warm winter nook; a comfy kitchen mezzanine; and, the most important thing, 12 King Tide beers on tap, with names like 'The Power of Voodoo', 'The Hippie Camper', 'Virgin Haze' and 'Beached As'. I'm keen to try them all—perhaps not in the one session, though!

Josh and Lucy, I can only imagine the nerves, blood, sweat and tears you went through during this time. It's a testament to your vision and grit. You're on a winner. I can't wait to see your investment in the Coffs coast community pay off in spades. Cheers to you both.