Worth the Trip: A Michelin-Trained Chef is Running a Pub in a Quaint Sunshine Coast Hinterland Town

From Michelin-starred kitchens in the UK – including Murano by Angela Hartnett and the now-closed Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley – to the Sunshine Coast hinterland, chef Oscar Holgado ’s been on quite the journey. Now, he’s living in the quiet town of Kin Kin, running its 111-year-old local pub.

Formerly the Country Life Hotel, the pub was purchased in 2021 and then closed for nearly two years – as new owners David and Ellie Ezrine were restoring the run-down building, refreshing the rooms upstairs and establishing a working farm across the road. The project, now known as The Kin Kin Hotel, seemed a natural fit for Holgado who had previously served as head chef at Coombeshead Farm – a guesthouse, working farm and restaurant in Cornwall.

“[When] I came two years ago, I saw it and thought it was like [the sort of] country boutique hotel you’d find in a quaint English village,” Holgado says. “The first night we opened, I was gobsmacked. I wasn’t expecting how much the chicken parmi means to so many [people].”

Since reopening in late 2023, the pub has built a loyal following. Holgado and his team focus on simple, honest cooking, with everything made in-house. That might mean pork rillettes with pickles and grilled sourdough; käsekrainer sausage with mustard; free-range Yanjala Farm pork with apple ketchup, or a classic cheeseburger with pickles, mustard and sesame bun.

But it’s The Woodshed – a converted agricultural shed next to the pub – where Holgado really stretches his culinary legs. The wood-fired restaurant opened in June, serving a seven-course tasting menu with an optional wine pairing. Staying true to his farm-to-table ethos, Holgado keeps things restrained, growing as much produce as possible across the road and working closely with local producers.

“You’re not going to find many gimmicky techniques,” Holgado says. “We realise we’re still in the countryside, so it’s nice to come out and have a good plate of food [where] you recognise everything on it.”

The menu changes daily, depending on what produce is available. Across the road, Holgado’s garden has 36 beds and a greenhouse. When Broadsheet talks to Holgado, he says it’s brimming with fennel, broccoli, winter tomatoes, rainbow chard, lettuce, herbs and radishes.

A meal at The Woodshed might start with a series of garden-led snacks, before moving to house-baked sourdough with preserved vegetables; pork, prune and pistachio pâté en croute; and fresh cheese with honey and thyme. Then you might see pumpkin agnolotti with sage brown butter, and Beach Farm Wagyu sirloin with potato mousseline, café de Paris butter and herb salad.

More recently, the Ezrines opened accommodation above the pub: 10 queen rooms full of heritage charm. They’re offering a ‘dine and stay’ package that includes dinner for two at The Woodshed, an overnight stay and breakfast – complete with sourdough, pastries and cakes from husband-and-wife bakers Kirsty and Richard Mundt (both ex- Agnes Bakery).

“[We’re] quite far from the closest town – Noosa is 40 minutes away – so you have to drive out here and make the commitment,” Holgado says. “We [wanted] to open up the rooms so people can eat, drink and stay.”

The Kin Kin Hotel
69 Main Street, Kin Kin
No phone

Hours
Thu to Sun 8am–late
The Woodshed is open on Friday and Saturday evenings.

kinkinhotel.com/
@kinkinhotel
@thewoodshedkinkin