Hemmes snares some key chefs for the Royal Hotel in Bondi

Justin Hemmes has followed a softly softly approach since taking the keys to the Royal Hotel on Bondi Road after splashing a reported $30 million to buy it. While we're excited by talk of the addition of a vending machine pumping out Young Henry's beer, it's the kitchen rather than the faded interior that's getting our pulses racing. Merivale collects top-shelf chefs at the rate the Getty family hoard artworks, and while the addition of former Rockpool head chef Khan Danis is a coup for Bondi Road, there's strong mail Pinbone's Mike Eggert is also set to join the team at the Royal. Merivale is tight-lipped, but Good Food hears Eggert is poised to rebirth the Mr Liquor's Dirty Italian Disco pop-up, which closed in Mascot in August, for a summer stint at the Royal.