Local favourite the Hawkesbury Hotel in historic Windsor has been saved by the sale, as second-time owners Steven and Lauren Raffen take the reins.
The multi-level Hawkesbury Hotel resides on a 1,529 sqm block on the corner of George and Tebbutt Streets through Windsor – one of the oldest European settlements in Australia, around 46 kilometres north-west of the Sydney CBD.
The precinct is a strategic centre to major Western City District plans for infrastructure, and the current LGA population of 15,000 is expected to grow significantly with 33,000 new homes slated to be built over the coming decade.
Set across two levels, the pub is close to Hawkesbury District Hospital and the train station, offering a single-operation public bar, TAB, dining area, big beer garden and flexible outdoor area, stage for live music, and gaming operation with 15 EGMs, four in smoking solution.
There are also ten newly-refurbished accommodation rooms upstairs.
In May the private freehold owners determined to divest their passive asset, operated by an ongoing tenant.
But the move prompted the lessee to also call time, necessitating a temporary venue manager to be brought in during the sale process – which switched to offer the Hotel as a freehold going concern.
Steven Raffen washed his hands of the automotive industry around six years ago, leaving a job as a gas mechanic to buy his first pub with wife Lauren, the Family Hotel in Bathurst.
Armed with no prior experience, the pair lived and breathed the regional hotel, eventually selling with plans to ‘trade up’ to a larger operation.
Steven went to school in Windsor, and was attracted to the opportunity of reconnecting with his old stomping ground. The Raffens settled on the pub this week and are not wasting any time.
“I’ve been here two days and met quite a few people so far, and they’re just glad to have a hotel, because it was on the brink of close,” offers Steven.
“We’ll just fix what’s broken and try and move forward as best we can.”
Adopting a philosophy of feedback, Steven says he tries not to make too many plans.
“We own the building, but without customers you’ve got nothing, so I don’t try and do anything out of the ordinary, just good beer, good food, good environment.
“I’m no Hemmes or Laundy, I’ve just got to work with what I’ve got.
“My wife works with me side by side. She’s fantastic. You wouldn’t meet a harder-working woman if you went to the end of the earth.”
The opportunity sale, through CBRE’s Kate MacDonald and Knight Frank’s Mike Wheatley, attracted considerable industry interest, drawn to the potential and activity in the area.
“Consistent residential growth and improved infrastructure in greater western Sydney has resulted in a publican’s dream,” suggests MacDonald, “as seen in strong recent sales in Richmond, and Arthur Laundy’s greenfield pub-brewery at Marsden Park.
“We received over 100 enquiries on the Hawkesbury Hotel, which presents enormous opportunity for its new owners. Steve and Lauren will lean on their great experience and local knowledge to bring the operation to new heights.”
