Owners of Australia’s best bar, Maybe Sammy, split with Jon Adgemis’ Public Hospitality

The owners of Australia’s Best Bar, Maybe Sammy, have split from playboy Sydney pub baron Jon Adgemis’ under-siege Public Hospitality Group.

The owners of Australia’s Best Bar, Maybe Sammy, have ended their relationship with the under siege Public Hospitality.

The Maybe Group, which owns the bar in the Rocks as well as Italian restaurant Maybe Frank, were acquired by the Jon Adgemis’ run hospitality group in 2023.

The deal was one of the biggest for Public Hospitality and together the two opened arguably Public’s most successful venture, Mexican bar El Primo Sanchez in Paddington last year.

However after a year, Maybe Group founders Vince Lombardo and Stefano Catino cut their ties with Public.

In happier times: Jon Adgemis with Vince Lombardo and Stefano Catino after his Public Hospitality had acquired The Maybe Group in 2023. They’ve now split. Picture: Richard Dobson

To make timing worse, the announcement comes the same day hospitality consultant, former Crown CEO Peter Crinis, case against Adgemis over unpaid funds will appear for the first time in the NSW Supreme Court.

The Maybe Group’s split with Public means the venues will remain with Lombardo and Catino.

While the tequila bar El Primo Sanchez will transition from Public to The Maybe Group through a licence agreement.

In a statement, Lombardo said the decision to end the relationship was amicable.

“Stef and I believe we can best serve our venues by bringing them back under The Maybe Group’s wing, and Jon has supported us in this decision,” said Lombardo.

Embattled Public Hospitality boss Jon Adgemis and his glamorous actress partner Megan MacKenzie.

Public Hospitality’s acquisition of the Maybe Group sent shockwaves through the industry and their success – Maybe Sammy was named the most influential bar in the world in 2023 – gave Public a lot of credibility.

The Rock’s Maybe Sammy was launched in 2019 and has been voted the best bar in Australia by The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024. It was the venue Superstar Margot Robbie chose to launch her gin brand, Papa Salt, in May 2023.

However with the former KPMG bankers’ debt woes, many insiders were questioning how long Lombardo and Catino would stay with Public.

The Maybe Group will take back full ownership of Australia’s Best Bar, Maybe Sammy.

The Maybe Group will also license El Primo Sanchez. Picture: John Grainger

In May, Adgemis secured funding under a $400m debt deal, refinanced by a consortium of lenders including Deutsche Bank, to save the company.

However it things haven’t quieten down for Public.

Crinis, who worked with the former KPMG banker in establishing Public, is taking Adgemis to court today over unpaid funds, which are understood to be to the tune of $800 000.

Peter Crinis (left) is taking Adgemis to the NSW Supreme Court over unpaid funds from his time working with Public. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Respected chef Clayton Wells left the group, while another hospitality player, Dedes Group, took over the operations of famed Greek restaurant Alpha.

While award-winning bartender Matt Whiley was due to open his zero-waste bar Re at The Public owned Norfolk hotel in May, but it still remains closed.