A new pub outfit headlined by Bruce Mathieson has secured the Merrimac Tavern, on the Gold Coast.
The Queensland OLGR website reports approval for the licences to Merrimac Operations P/L, as trustee for the Merrimac Tavern Operations Unit Trust, which was formed in April of this year.
Corporate documents show Merrimac Operations counts as directors Patrick Terence Jackman, and Bruce Joseph Mathieson.
Long-serving director of ALH and Bruce Mathieson Group, Ross Blair-Holt, is secretary of the new Victoria-based operation, which would appear somewhat top-heavy for a single Queensland pub.
The Merrimac Tavern and complex, also including Counter Café and Big Fella’s Pizza, sold in 2017 for $4.55 million to a local investor, on a strong 7.6 per cent yield. The Tavern was under lease until 2026, plus two 10-year options.
Sources close to the deal say there has been no official word from the new group on plans at Merrimac or beyond.
The new entity comes even as Bruce Mathieson Sr ramps up his stake in the newly listed Endeavour, encompassing Australia’s largest pub group, ALH, paying $55 million for an additional 8.4 million shares, increasing his stake 0.4 per cent to 15.0 per cent.
PubTIC was unable to make contact with the principals prior to publication.
