Corporate investment in the pub sector is ramping up with the country’s second-biggest operator, Australian Venue Co, swooping on 10 venues in south-east Queensland and its biggest landlord, Charter Hall buying the freehold to trendy Harlow Bar in inner Melbourne

These acquisitions come after Charter Hall and industry superfund Hostplus lobbed a $710 million takeover bid last week for Australia’s last remaining listed pub landlord, Hotel Property Investments and after MA Financial’s Redcape Hotel Group sold two Western Sydney venues for $73 million, but indicated it was in talks to buy $120 million of higher-yielding assets.