The bonny Scottish Arms Hotel of East Bowral has been listed for sale by its only ever owners, amid ongoing demand and limited supply for Sydney fringe pub assets.
The Robertson family acquired the site in late 1999 and oversaw all elements of construction, which began in 2005. The family also designed all internal fixtures, fittings and decorations, and the double-brick structure was built by a Scottish bricklayer.
It commenced trading in 2007 and has been owned and operated by the Robertson family ever since.
Themed in a nod to 18th century Scotland, the pub pays homage to both the family’s heritage and that of the Southern Highlands, which claims deep historical affiliation with Scottish culture.
The region is home to the annual Brigadoon Festival, which attracts crowds of up to 20k people, to celebrate the highland way of living.
Offering public bar and wagering, dining, gaming room with six machines, a massive beer garden and bottleshop, the Arms reports a well-balanced mix of trade.
It holds a midnight liquor licence, in a Green SA2 LGA, suggesting opportunity for extended trading hours and gaming.
Occupying a generous 1,536sqm lot, the footprint is underutilised, implying expansion potential.
The Arms is the only pub in the East Bowral area, in a catchment of around 4,000 residents.
Its sale represents a rare Southern Highlands opportunity, given the last Bowral hotel publicly offered to market was in 2016. Sources suggest it will likely fetch sale price around $15 million.
“The hotel is virtually unopposed in terms of competition and has a large trading footprint with some internal sections available to be activated on a more regular basis,” offers HTL Property’s Blake Edwards, marketing the property with colleague Sam Handy.
“It will appeal to a food and beverage-focused operator seeking to activate an edgier food and beverage proposition.”
The freehold going concern of the Scottish Arms Hotel is being sold via Expressions of Interest, closing Wednesday, 31 August.
