Anelay Rooftop Bar and Restaurant’s name to change after business sold
It’s the end of an era for Townsville’s Anelay Rooftop Bar and Restaurant, which is undergoing some major changes. Find out what’s happening.
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It’s the end of an era for Townsville’s up-market Strand venue Anelay Rooftop Bar and Restaurant, which will have its name changed and undergo renovations after being purchased by a national hospitality group.
After three years in development, Anelay was opened in late 2021 by co-owners and former-Burdekin Burdekin sports stars Shane Muspratt and Shaun McCarthy – who were inspired by overseas travels to open a lifestyle venue with coastal views and a beachside vibe.
Located at 70 The Strand, with a spectacular view of the beach and Magnetic Island, Anelay catered to a wide range of tastes with its 35 chefs and four kitchens, dishing up everything from Asian fusion, rustic Italian and modern Australian seafood.
Concerned residents took to social media to ask questions about the business after seeing a closed for renovations sign, the web site disappear, and a permanently closed message on Google searches.
Mr McCarthy said they had been approached by a real estate agent in mid-2023 to discuss the possibility of an off-market sale.
“We’re excited to announce that we have sold Anelay Bar & Restaurant to a national hospitality group. They will be making some improvements to the venue, so stay tuned for some exciting updates in the coming weeks,” Mr McCarthy said.
“We want to thank all our customers and staff for their support over the past few years and are proud of the development we have brought to the Strand and Townsville.
“We wish the new owners all the best and can’t wait to visit for a bite to eat and drink in the future.”
Following the completion of a six month due diligence period, the business will be handed over to its new owners on Friday – when the unnamed national hospitality group was expected to provide more information about the sale, and Anelay’s new name.
While some of the business’ 80 staff would move on, he said the majority of the staff kept their jobs and it would be “business as usual” once the venue reopened.
“Everything’s for sale and you don’t do everything forever, and I suppose it was an opportunistic time and these guys were on the hunt for future expansion,” he said.
“We were able to strike a deal (which) frees us up for our other business ventures.”
As the master franchisees for the Zambrero restaurant chain, where they had opened over 90 restaurants, including 20 in North Queensland and 27 in Dublin, Ireland, Mr McCarthy said they would be “looking at further expansion into the international markets”.
“(There’s) new things around the corner so onwards and upwards,” he said.
Originally published as Anelay Rooftop Bar and Restaurant’s name to change after business sold
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