NATIONAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2019

The National AHA Awards for Excellence took place this afternoon in a gala event at The Star on the Gold Coast, ushering the unrivalled for 2019 in everything hospitality. Nearly 500 VIP and industry guests from across Australia gathered for the Australian Hotels Association National event, celebrating the greatest achievements in food, beverage and accommodation. […]

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BOOMING IRIS LISTS KEARSLEY HOTEL

Fresh from its recent record-breaking acquisition of Hotel Steyne, Iris Capital has listed for sale the Hunter Valley’s Kearsley Hotel. Beyond $60-plus million buys in one of Sydney’s highly prized precincts, Iris has been steadily building a formidable presence in Newcastle, and in the Hunter Valley, seen in purchase of Hungerford Hill Estate in Polkolbin, […]

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HO HO FARMER’S HOTEL TO DO SANTAS ON A BUS

The Farmer’s Hotel at Vacy is mustering its own Christmas celebrations, marching to the tune of Santas in kilts and seeing how many of the jolly fellas it can pack onto a double-decker bus. Proprietor Dr Maurice Harden is part of a the catchy-named former Royal Australian Corps of Transport ACT Pipers and Drums bandsman […]

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IRIS SETTLES ON ROGERS PORTFOLIO IN BOOM TOWN

Sam Arnaout’s Iris Group has further cemented its footings in booming Newcastle, securing Campbell and Clare Rogers’ portfolio in the biggest deal seen in the area. The Rogers acquired large-format Hamilton pub the Sydney Junction Hotel in 2014, building its successes to go on and win the AHA NSW Award for Best Casual Dining in […]

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PUB TOURS GROWING WITH GARY, GREGG AND DAVE

Legends of the business of pub walking tours have joined forces to expand the concept beyond Sydney and even pubs, with the evolved business of Dave’s Pub Tours. In 2010 Gregg Peek began Peek Tours, and gaining momentum, in 2015 the business combined with Dave Phillips’ success with Dave’s Brewery Tours, to form Dave’s Pub […]

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WINEMAKER TEMPTED INTO LEURA’S ELEGANT ALEXANDRA

A former publican turned winemaker is back in the game after snapping up Leura’s beautiful Alexandra Hotel, in the lower Blue Mountains, outside of Sydney. Once upon a time, Greg Perrett was proprietor of the Bellbird Hotel in the Hunter Valley, but for two decades he ran the nearby Hanging Tree vineyard, which he sold […]

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RIVER ROYAL BACK – AND BACK ON MARKET

Local mining identity Dale McNamara is parting with his painstakingly restored Morpeth pub, the River Royal Inn, having breathed life back into the drowned historic building. A ‘super storm’ in early 2015 brought a wall of water crashing through the back of the 1827-built pub in Morpeth, just east of Maitland. The massive repair bill […]

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WHATHAMS’ AGI HOTEL SOLD TO CHINESE INVESTORS

Singleton’s Agricultural Hotel has sold to a Chinese investor, as long-time owners the Whathams exit the pub game. The ‘Agi’, as it is known locally, has been owned by Allen and Sue Whatham for more than two decades, at times run by them, other times leased. The pub is 30 minutes from the popular Hunter […]

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NEW LIFE AND BLOOD FOR CALEDONIA HOTEL

After an exhaustive marketing campaign, the Caledonia Hotel has been sold to new blood, as the incumbent looks to other hotel and business interests. Local Ian Negline has been owner of the Caledonia, along with other Central Coast hotels and tourist parks, operating the pub under management. Amid growing commitments, he offered up the freehold […]

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