NEW ERA BECKONS FOR EMPIRE HOTEL AT AUCTION
The elegant Empire Hotel will go to auction later this month, with the somewhat tired Victorian pub presenting plenty of options. The two-story Empire, located on Railway St in Kurri Kurri, formerly a pit-stop on the highway going west from
NEW GROUP’S BIG RETURN TO PUB GAME WITH OPEN ARMS
Back from their big-deal sabbaticals, the team behind Beer Deluxe has launched the next era in their hotel aspirations, announcing Open Arms Hospitality and the pending Public House pub. Former Albury Tigers team-mates and long-time friends Craig Shearer and Jason
COLONIAL LEISURE BRINGS BREWS AND THE FOX TO FISH LANE
The second annual Fish Lane Festival will take place in the bustling heart of Brisbane this Saturday, 13 May, celebrating a neighbourhood reborn and Colonial Leisure Group’s induction. The ‘Fish Lane’ precinct is the brainchild of Aria Property Group, which
INDUSTRY ICON MAX HITCHINS DECLARES SOCIAL WAR ON WAR
Inspired by descendants destined to suffer the jetsam of an escalating world climate of human legacy and politics, the Hospitality Doctor, Max Hitchins, has teamed up with ophthalmologist Dr Frank Cheok for a social media war on war. Industry veteran,
HEINEKEN FLEXES GLOBAL MUSCLES WITH WORLDS APART
One of the world’s largest and most truly global beer brands has produced a sublime example of subtlety and brand association by pitting strangers together over flat-pack furniture. Following Pepsi’s recent marketing disaster featuring Kendall Jenner, Heineken has achieved what
HOT MARKET SEES COOLIBAH HOTEL FETCH $40m
Continuing the wave of hot transactions, the biggest for two years has gone down, with the top-ranked Coolibah Hotel in Merrylands selling for around $40 million. The very private family-run Vlandis group, led by Peter Vlandis and his son-in-law Michael
MOELIS MAY FINALLY MEET THE MARK FOR REDCAPE BUY
In a crescendo years in the making, investment bank Moelis is believed to have secured an SIV fund purchase of the lucrative Redcape portfolio for circa $700 million. The AFR reports Moelis has broken with a proposed partnership with publican
RICHMOND’S RUBRIC RISING SUN TO RISE AGAIN
After several years in the wilderness, Richmond’s iconic Rising Sun Hotel is coming back to life – reassured of remaining part of Melbourne’s hotel landscape. Pat Reardon (Sr) bought the leasehold business in the late 90s, furthering the family’s history
NEW BANKSTOWN BAR CLOSED DUE TO LICENCE BREACHES
A new licensed karaoke bar in Bankstown has been closed by ILGA following licensing inspectors detecting gross violations including serious intoxication and selling whole bottles of spirits. Replay Karaoke Lounge opened earlier this year, touted as having “chic, urban interiors
HAPPY DAYS AND BIG WINS AT LAUNDY HOTELS
Laundy Hotels have been especially hospitable of late, helping one industry newcomer into ‘paradise’ and making another a millionaire. Arthur Laundy’s operation took on the idyllic Tea Gardens Hotel in February of 2015, in partnership with Steve and Trish Rodgers

