Classic regional pub the Murrumbidgee Hotel has come to market, as long-serving owner-operator Gary Tuckett looks to life back on the land.
The ‘Bidgee’ graces the prominent corner of East and Audley Streets in the CBD of Narrandera.
The two-storey pub sports single bar service, lounge area, gaming room with 12 EGMs as well as Keno and EBT, a courtyard and enclosed kids’ play area, function room with its own bar, and the town’s only drive-through bottleshop.
Upstairs are 12 pub-style accommodation rooms and a two-bedroom manager’s apartment, with a classic wide balcony skirting two sides of the building.
Built on a sizeable 1,397sqm block in 1910, the Murrumbidgee has seen recent capex in refurbishment of common areas and some of the rooms, including a $55k upgrade of the men’s amenities.
Narrandera is known as the “gateway to the Riverina”, located six hours’ drive west and slightly south of Sydney. The Narrandera LGA counts around 6,000 residents, predominantly employed in agriculture-related industry.
Tuckett bought the pub late 2000 and although he spends limited time onsite these days, he yearns for other pastures.
“We’ve got a farm as well,” he explains. “I breed black cattle. I enjoy it and just want to get more into that.”
The Hotel reports close to $50k average weekly revenue, with the bottleshop the biggest earner. The gaming operation offers no smoking solution nor TITO or CRT.
Tuckett has engaged Manenti Quinlan’s Charlie Fenton and Leonard Bongiovanni, who note its prominent location in town and clear blue sky.
“There’s plenty of upside,” suggests Fenton. “The pub presents very well, and it would be a simple renovation to make the poker machine room into a smoking area.”
The freehold going concern of the Murrumbidgee Hotel is being offered via Expressions of Interest, closing Thursday, 12 March.
