The high-profile Caledonian Hotel of Singleton has been put to market by husband and wife team Helen and John Hill.
Singleton is in the upper Hunter Valley, approximately 70 kilometres from Newcastle, and benefiting from strong economic and tourism activity in the wider area.
Set on a prominent 2,226sqm corner block, it cites average weekly revenues of circa $75,000, through its bar and bistro areas, gaming with 15 entitlements, outdoor beer garden, and 14 pub-style accommodation rooms, plus plenty of onsite parking.
Upside potential in the operation is seen in improvements to the gaming offering, which already contributes 40 per cent of revenue, but the Band 2 zoning could allow for an increase in machines.
There is also the 1,000sqm carpark at the rear, which could potentially be converted into a drive-through bottle shop or additional building space.
The Caledonian hit the headlines around Australia and even abroad last October when it championed defiance of the Public Health Orders and proclaimed the pub open to anyone – with or without vaccine.
The licensee and several employees were issued $1,000 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINS) and the venue closed for several days over multiple breaches. The licensee was further charged with two counts of not complying with a noticed COVID-19 direction, and facing Singleton Local Court in December was convicted and fined. And in April the operators drew further ire from local authorities, who ordered them to take an unauthorised, antivax symbol Ensign flag from the roof.
This has been the second round tenure for the Hills, who purchased the pub again in 2014.
Sale this time has been entrusted to JLL’s Kate MacDonald and Greg Jeloudev, as strategically situated Hotels enjoy unparalleled attention.
“Hotel investor demand is at an all-time high in regional NSW, in particular for locations within a 2- to 3-hour drive of Sydney,” says MacDonald.
The freehold going concern of the Caledonian Hotel is being offered for sale via Expressions of Interest, closing Thursday, 2 June.
