Changing Times

UNIVERSAL MODULATION ON MIDNIGHT SHIFT BEGINS TONIGHT

Posted on September 28th, 2018 by Clyde Mooney
After much speculation, Universal Hotels is tonight opening its tweaked Midnight Shift, launching a three-day party under a new moniker. The group operated by the Kospetas family acquired the legendary Shift – reputed to have been the first gay bar

MERIVALE OPENS ROYAL BONDI WITH BOTTOMS UP

Posted on September 24th, 2018 by Clyde Mooney
Merivale has reopened its new Bondi icon, the Royal Hotel, ushering a preserved past, pop-up dining concept on the way, and half-price drinks throughout October. Justin Hemmes’ pioneering group snatched the iconic Royal Hotel on Bondi Road in late 2017,

IRIS UNVEILS BIG-BUDGET RENO AT WENTWORTH HOMEBUSH

Posted on September 21st, 2018 by Clyde Mooney
Iris has loosed the purse-strings again in the name of optimising its big-format Wentworth Hotel, striking a prominent and handsome pose on Parramatta Road in Homebush. Sam Arnaout’s Iris Capital bought the two-storey brick heritage pub beside one of Sydney’s

HARDIMAN’S REVIVAL SEES NEW OPEN DOOR

Posted on September 14th, 2018 by Clyde Mooney
Michael Thiele and Craig Ellison are back, with the grand unveiling of their rebuilt Hardiman’s Hotel in Kensington, turning a new page for the duo. Thiele and Ellison were the drive behind the former Open Door Pub Co, which grew

EAST BRUNSWICK TO JUMP AGAIN WITH NEW LOOK

Posted on September 3rd, 2018 by Clyde Mooney
After selling at auction late last year for $4.4 million, the iconic East Brunswick Hotel is back with a new look for another encore. The pub is a three-storey corner structure on a compact 380sqm block that was operated for

TOUGH TIMES CLOSE TWO QUEENSLAND PUBS

Posted on August 27th, 2018 by Clyde Mooney
Queensland regional pubs are doing it tough amid rising costs for transport and utilities, with two stories of planned revival resulting in recent closure. Wendy and Bruce McFarlane own and operate the Royal Hotel at Rubyvale in Queensland’s gem fields,

PHMG UNVEILS NEW TOXTETH FOR A MODERN GLEBE

Posted on August 13th, 2018 by Clyde Mooney
PHMG has reopened the reinvented Toxteth Hotel, where “nostalgia meets innovation”, following a comprehensive six-month renovation. Public House Management Group (PHMG) bought the inner-west pub early 2017 for $22 million from Singleton and Dixon’s Riversdale Group. The Toxteth – aka

BALMAIN ICON EXCHANGE HOTEL REOPENS WITH IDEAL SPACE

Posted on July 25th, 2018 by Clyde Mooney
Ending more than a year closed, the iconic Exchange Hotel in Balmain has reopened with a pioneering business model, new concept and new first-time publican operator. The landmark pub dominating the corner of classic Balmain arteries Beattie and Mullens Streets

ROYAL MAIL BALLARAT IN RECEIVERSHIP – AGAIN

Posted on July 6th, 2018 by Clyde Mooney
A well-known Ballarat pub has closed its doors again, after a second tenant, connected with the first, has had liquidators take over. The Royal Mail was operated by Royal Mail Hotel (Ballarat) Pty Ltd under a vendor finance agreement, until