One of Fitzroy’s favourites has been sold for the first time in nearly three decades, as Guy Lawson passes the title of the Napier Hotel to a new entrant to pubs.
Established in 1866 under the same moniker on the corner of Moor and Napier Streets, the former Napier Hotel was replaced in 1916 with the striking current structure, built for Carlton & United Brewing, featuring two façades on the two-storey brick hotel that are joined at a splayed corner topped by a square roof tower.
Central to the inner Melbourne precinct, the prominent property has become a hospitality institution, even spending a period as the setting for the ABC television series Jack Irish. It has diligently retained its old-school authenticity throughout decades and waves of neighbourhood transformation.
Since 1996 this has been under the curation of owner-operator Guy Lawson, who has sustained its reputation as one of Fitzroy’s most beloved hospitality destinations. Late 2024 it made the list in GQ’s guide to the best pubs in Melbourne.
Taking control of the freehold going concern for a reported $10 million is Baxter Pickard, said to be one of Melbourne’s emerging hospitality stars, adding to his interests at wine bar Wally’s Albert Park and wine delivery service Grapeful.
Mindful of its community presence, Pickard pledges to honour the venue’s storied history.
“The Napier represents everything special about Melbourne’s pub culture, and I’m excited to ensure the continuation of the legacy Guy has created for close to 30 years,” he says.
“I’m committed to preserving the spirit that has made the Napier the icon it is, while ensuring it continues to thrive for generations to come.”
This sale follows the recent transaction of Bells Hotel in South Melbourne, seeing a syndicate headed by former CUB chief Peter Filipovic pay more than $20 million for another typically uber-rare freehold going concern.
Hinting at “further Victorian pub transactions” to come, JLL Hotels’ Will Connolly suggests we’re seeing a significant return of confidence to Melbourne’s pub market. He also highlighted that the off-market transaction in Fitzroy was one where “respect and legacy took centre stage”.
“The sale of the Napier Hotel was carefully orchestrated in a nature befitting the hotel’s authentic spirit,” he says.
“A transaction such as this means much more than property and numbers – it becomes about preserving the future of a venue that matters deeply to the community, enabling its story to continue evolving in the right hands.”
