Mountains sweetheart the Alexandra Hotel of Leura is headed to auction, as the satellite town grows ever closer to Sydney.
Built in 1903, the two-storey ‘The Alex’ is a quintessential country-style hotel, and a Blue Mountains institution, being the only licensed pub in town.
Designed by a local architect, the Edwardian-style Alexandra boasts striking interior arches and a staircase of kauri pine. There is a traditional front bar, gaming lounge with 18 machines – 12 owned and six leased – with TITO and CRT, flexible function spaces, commercial kitchen and large dining room, and two large outdoor dining terraces with enviable Blue Mountains views.
Upstairs there are nine accommodation suites with flexible bedding configurations, wi-fi and large-screen TVs, a picturesque 26-metre balcony, and a manager’s residence with two bedrooms, living area and bathroom.
It was acquired in 2018 by a partnership led by hotelier Richard Wynne, along with former publican turned winemaker Greg Perrett and Chris Matthews, who conducted extensive capital improvements, bringing cosmetic renovations, a new gaming room, and repositioning the food and beverage operation.
Fronting the Great Western Highway, opposite Leura Railway Station, the Hotel is on a 3,781sqm high-profile corner block, on the well-beaten path between Sydney and the state’s central west.
The Blue Mountains region is a World Heritage-listed area that draws visitors from across the globe, and over four million domestic tourists in 2023 alone, with a year-round calendar of festivals, concerts, and cultural and sporting events.
A picturesque village with an historic, tree-lined streetscape, Leura is widely considered the “jewel of the Blue Mountains” and is renowned for its charming boutiques, cafes, tea houses and restaurants, antiques stores and gardens. More than 22k vehicles pass through town each day, and this is expected to grow when the Great Western Highway Upgrade Program further streamlines the journey from Sydney.
While it reports weekly turnover of circa $100k, there is upside to be realised in existing departments to drive further business.
Wynne still owns Balmain’s Cat & Fiddle, and cites a desire to focus on his Sydney business as reason behind the sale.
“With Blue Mountains tourism going from strength to strength, a savvy operator will quickly capitalise on this potential,” suggests Manenti Quinlan & Associates’ Leonard Bongiovanni, marketing the property.
The Alexandra Hotel freehold going concern will go under the hammer at 10.30am on Thursday, 12 October, at Cooley CBD Dexus Place on Margaret Street.
