Sydney hotel manager Roman Nalywajko is stepping up and into Steel City, acquiring Newcastle’s Honeysuckle Social.
The venue, on 450sqm, began life just a decade ago, as a James Squire brew bar. In early 2020 it underwent a makeover and rebrand, re-emerging as the chic, renovated Honeysuckle Social.
It is located within the ‘Honeysuckle’ waterfront entertainment precinct, which is one of Newcastle’s largest ever urban renewal projects. Newcastle has become an increasingly popular relocation choice for Sydneysiders, further fuelled by the increase in ‘working from home’ arrangements.
Honeysuckle Social is surrounded by an enviable mix of both commercial and residential property, with more projects currently underway.
Sales literature reports weekly revenue north of $55k under COVID trading restrictions, but turnover is expected to substantially increase pending occupation of the 1,000+ residential apartments nearing completion within a two-kilometre radius of the venue.
Roman Nalywajko has been at Hotel Pennant Hills since 2002, rising to rank of GM and licensee.
A deal on the Honeysuckle culminates more than a decade of searching by Roman and his wife Alyssa.
“We absolutely love the space and very much look forward to serving the Honeysuckle and greater Newcastle community,” says Nalywajko.
“We have been looking for a business to call our own for a long time, so it’s incredibly satisfying to have finally found it.”
The transaction was brokered by JLL Hotels’ Kate MacDonald and Ben McDonald, who note the deal’s relevance in the current environment.
“In a post-COVID world, talented operators are moving outside the major cities to put their mark on the regions,” says MacDonald.
“Often these moves do not involve gaming, especially if the location is coastal, and the thirst for F&B is at a peak.”
