LIQUOR REGULATOR OLIVE BRANCH TAKES ROOT

The NSW Government has announced a quick start for plans on relaxing bottleshop closing times and boosting small bars “in time for the festive season”. Government’s response last week to the long-awaited ‘Callinan Review’ spoke of a package of measures

OUTGOING PUBLICANS IN SPOTLIGHT OVER EXPLOSION DEATHS

A Coroner’s inquest into the deaths of two men in an explosion at the closing of the Hotel Rochester has brought into question the responsibilities of the financially stressed outgoing operators. The Hotel in Rochester* was previously operated by husband

HAPPY ENDING FOR PELATHON IN CASE OF COURTHOUSE

A “positive outcome for all” has been achieved with Cairns Council announcing the purchase of Pelathon’s Courthouse Hotel – just bought from Lantern Hotel Group. Lantern listed the Hotel for sale back in June, executing an Expressions of Interest campaign

INCONTROVERTIBLE CRAFT SPAWNS INSTITUTE OF BEER

The fast-changing and trendy business of beer in Australia has taken another evolutionary step, with some of the country’s biggest beer nerds now offering the acclaimed Cicerone training advantage. The crafted beer revolution has been shaking up the establishments in

MERIVALE UNVEILS EASTERN QUEEN IN INNER WEST

Justin Hemmes’ Merivale has today launched the Group’s much-anticipated first venue in Sydney’s west, transforming the Queen Victoria into the quirky and bedecked Queens Hotel. Merivale purchased the pub in April 2015, with Hemmes citing his passion for creating world-class

TSEKOS SNAGS ALH’S IRON HORSE FOR $15m

Leo Tsekos has won the title to ALH’s Iron Horse Hotel with a cheeky last bid at the auction for the blue-chip investment property in the heart of Newcastle. A strong crowd gathered for Burgess Rawson’s final commercial auction of

MENU MAKER TOOL BOON FOR ON-PREMISE

Australia’s largest independent on-premise drinks specialist has launched Menu Maker – leveraging brand knowledge and technology to provide more to venue clients than mere supply. 100-Proof launched in July; a collaboration of independent wholesalers Paramount Liquor, Liquid Mix, and Liquid

WALKERS MOVING ON FROM ARMATREE PUB

After a decade restoring Armatree’s historic hotel, Ash and Libby Walker are moving on to buy the farm. The couple moved to Armatree as newlyweds and purchased the Armatree Hotel with no hotel experience. The 1929-built pub had “seen better

LIQUOR LAW REFORM TRICKLES AS INDUSTRY SINKS AND BAIRD DROWNS

The NSW Government has released a litter of liquor regulation tweaks to stave off criticism of its nanny-state policies, as parson Premier Mike Baird’s approval ratings reach their lowest ever*. The “package” of measures released yesterday included Government’s long-awaited response