Hospitality giant Justin Hemmes takes over debt on Club Rose Bay

Hospitality tsar Justin Hemmes has taken over the debt of an eastern suburbs RSL club that suddenly closed its doors after going into receivership last month.

Club Rose Bay abruptly shut its doors last month. Picture: Tom Parrish

Merivale boss Justin Hemmes looks set to swoop into embattled seaside RSL, Club Rose Bay.

Last month, The Daily Telegraph revealed the RSL club had gone into a sudden receivership and closed its doors, the day after launching its new food offering.

Now, in documents seen by this paper, Hemmes Finance Pty Ltd has taken over the debt for the embattled club.

Hemmes Finance is the registered business of Justin John Hemmes, CEO of hospitality juggernaut Merivale.

Hospitality tsar Justin Hemmes. Picture: Mick Bruzzese

Club Rose Bay closed suddenly last month. Picture: Tom Parrish

According to the club’s annual reports, in 2022 it was trading at a loss of over $350,000. In 2023 it was trading at a loss of just over $40,000.

On August 29, Club Rose Bay was celebrating the grand opening of their new Italian Bistro Villaggio.

The next morning, the doors to the waterside club were locked and staff terminated after the club went into receivership.

According to Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents, the long-standing RSL club was placed into administration on August 15.

The first meeting of creditors was held on Tuesday 27 August and the administrators said in a statement they were hoping to trade out of it.

However, a change occurred when receivers were appointed by a secured creditor.

Since the closure, there have been rumours that another club had stepped in to rescue the venue.

The Sunday Telegraph reached out to Merivale for a comment.

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Originally published as Hospitality giant Justin Hemmes takes over debt on Club Rose Bay