The high-profile Mantle Group has listed another two of its flagship Pig N’ Whistle venues in Brisbane, as it faces media inquiry and a pivot to larger premises.
Godfrey Mantle and wife Jenny oversee the large family-operated Queensland pub group, which had counted five locations branded as a Pig N’ Whistle (PnW), in Brisbane CBD, Fortitude Valley, Indooroopilly, Riverside, and formerly at Redbank Plains.
The Redbank operation was sold to Redcape last August for $11.5 million, later rebranded Eden Brewhouse.
In December came news the Mantle Group was facing allegations of staff exploitation and a ‘zombie’ workplace agreement 19 years’ old. Clouds have remained over its financial future, even as the family operation opens its Sound Garden venue in Fortitude Valley.
A press release stated of the divestments the company is “looking forward to focusing on the upcoming rollout of larger scale venues in Brisbane CBD and the Gold Coast”.
Mantle Group already operates over a dozen venues and employs over 800 people. It has denied any wrongdoing with staff, and the matter is pending finalisation.
On offer now is PnW Fortitude Valley, comprising an extensive fit-out over two levels of two buildings, with outdoor beer gardens, and four separate bars. A 146-room Hotel Indigo and due for completion opposite the pub in July and the PnW stands to benefit from the boost in foot traffic.
Also to market is PnW Indooroopilly, within the Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, approximately seven kilometres west of the CBD. It counts a main bar, large bistro area, expansive outdoor dining space, multiple function spaces and the popular Phuc Deli-Viet Vietnamese restaurant, which is included in the lease.
The Indooroopilly PnW also holds approval for 45 gaming machines, with an area to the rear ideal for a gaming room, offering direct access to Station Street.
Notably, the Pig N’ Whistle brand does not form part of either sale, offering potential buyers opportunity to reposition.
“While the Brunswick Street and Indooroopilly assets both [currently] carry the Pig ‘N’ Whistle brand, we believe they will attract very different purchasers, given they have vastly different attributes and price points,” suggested CBRE Hotels’ Chloe Mason, marketing the assets in conjunction with colleague Paul Fraser.
The two operations are available individually or in one line.
The Expressions of Interest campaigns on the leasehold interests closes Thursday, 26 March.
