Northern Star Hotel: Reviews, Menu, Accommodation, and More

The Northern Star Hotel, at 112 Beaumont Street in Hamilton, Newcastle, operates as a family-owned Irish pub and 3-star accommodation under one roof. This article draws on the hotel’s own website, verified listings on Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and KAYAK, along with local directories, to give you a clear picture of what to expect from the rooms, the bistro menu, and the pub atmosphere before you book or visit.

Last checked: 2026-07-06

Name: Northern Star Hotel · Address: 112 Beaumont Street, Hamilton NSW · Type: Family-owned Irish pub and hotel · Star Rating: 3-star

Northern Star Hotel Reviews

What guests think — by the numbers

The hotel’s KAYAK page aggregates roughly 375 verified reviews and gives an 8.1 out of 10, placing it in the “Very good” band (KAYAK). A smaller sample of 105–108 reviews on Trip.com yields a similar 7.8–7.9 out of 10 (Trip.com). The restaurant and pub component, reviewed separately on TripAdvisor, earns around 3.7 out of 5 stars — a more mixed score that reflects some criticism of food and service alongside positive notes (TripAdvisor).

TripAdvisor Ratings

On TripAdvisor the venue is categorised primarily as a restaurant, and user comments frequently mention the bar atmosphere and late opening hours. The 3.7 rating shows a split between diners who appreciate the pub setting and those who find the food inconsistent. No systematic breakdown by meal type is available in the current data.

Facebook Feedback

Social media activity on Facebook often ties the hotel to St Patrick’s Day celebrations and Irish music events (Facebook St Patrick’s Day group post). These posts describe a lively pub environment with eating, drinking, and entertainment, which aligns with the hotel’s self-description on its official site as “your authentic Irish pub.”

Northern Star Hotel Accommodation

Room Types

The hotel has 12 air-conditioned rooms, a small count that reviewers on Trip.com say contributes to a quiet, intimate stay. KAYAK adds that each room includes complimentary bottled water, a hair dryer, a flat-screen television, and free Wi-Fi. The available data does not specify room categories such as single, double, or ensuite configurations.

Amenities

Guests have access to a restaurant, a bar/lounge, a garden, and an ATM on site. Daily housekeeping is provided. Expedia’s New Zealand listing frames the property as “a hotel in Newcastle with a restaurant and bar/lounge,” and confirms that free Wi-Fi is available in both common areas and rooms (Expedia NZ). Pets are not allowed, per Trip.com’s policy section.

Booking Info

Check-in runs from 14:00 until 24:00, and check-out is between 05:30 and 10:00 — typical for a pub-hotel operating its bar late into the night. The Australian Good Food Guide lists opening hours for the pub itself as 10:00–00:00 Monday and Tuesday, 10:00–01:00 Wednesday and Thursday, 10:00–03:00 Friday and Saturday, and 10:00–00:00 Sunday (AGFG).

Northern Star Hotel Menu

Pub Classics

The Australian Good Food Guide categorises the Northern Star Hotel’s restaurant as a bistro-style operation within an Irish pub setting, serving pub bistro cuisine. While the current research does not provide a specific menu with prices, the venue’s own website promotes food alongside drinks and entertainment as core offerings. The bistro tag suggests the menu focuses on classic pub fare such as steaks, burgers, and fish and chips — typical for this segment of the Newcastle hospitality market.

Happy Hour Specials

Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with $10 pints available. This is a common price point among Beaumont Street pubs and gives budget-conscious drinkers a clear window for discounted drinks.

Pros and Cons of Staying at the Northern Star Hotel

Pros

• Value for money: Guest ratings consistently show strong satisfaction for the price — KAYAK’s 8.1/10 and Trip.com’s 7.8/10 both suggest good value at the affordable nightly rates reported.
• On-site amenities: Having a pub, restaurant, and garden in the same building means guests don’t need to travel for food and drinks.
• Free Wi-Fi and bottled water: Both are included in the room rate, a perk not always standard at 3-star pub-hotels.
• Central Beaumont Street location: Close to restaurants, bars, and public transport, and a 19-minute walk from Newcastle Showground.

Cons

• Mixed restaurant reviews: TripAdvisor’s 3.7/5 rating for the restaurant indicates inconsistency in food quality and service.
• Small hotel size: With only 12 rooms, availability can be limited, and the intimate scale may not suit larger groups or those seeking full-service hotel amenities.
• Possible noise from the pub: Guest comments on KAYAK and Trip.com occasionally reference the bar atmosphere, though no systematic complaint pattern about noise is documented in the current data.
• No pet policy: Pets are not allowed, which limits options for travellers with animals.

Location and Getting There

The Northern Star Hotel sits at 112 Beaumont Street, the main commercial strip in Hamilton, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales. Beaumont Street is known for its concentration of restaurants, pubs, and shops, putting the hotel within walking distance of several dining alternatives.

Newcastle Showground is a 19-minute walk east. The hotel is a short drive from Newcastle Beach and Lake Macquarie, according to Trip.com’s description of the area. The nearest major rail station is Hamilton Station, roughly 500 metres from the hotel, providing direct trains to Newcastle city centre and Sydney.

Alternatives in Set

If the Northern Star Hotel does not fit your needs, several comparable options exist within walking distance on Beaumont Street and in wider Newcastle. The Kent Hotel, also on Beaumont Street, offers a larger capacity and a beer garden; its reviews on TripAdvisor place it in a similar price range. Little National Hotel Newcastle, located closer to Newcastle city centre, provides a more modern, compact room format at a comparable 3-star level. For travellers willing to drive slightly further, The Junction Hotel in nearby Merewether offers a pub-hotel setup with a higher guest rating on booking platforms.

None of these alternatives share the explicit Irish theme of the Northern Star Hotel, which remains a distinguishing feature in the local market.

Our Pick Recommendation

For a detailed comparison of Northern Star and North Star hotels, check out detailed comparison of Northern Star and North Star hotels to see how they differ in pricing and history.

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