NSW’s top pub barons: Who owns your local hotel?
From self-made millionaires to family heirs, meet the hospitality titans behind your local watering hole and their plans for a pub visit post-Covid. See the list.
NSW
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The pub barons behind Sydney’s top watering holes reveal what a visit to the pub will be like in mid-October and why between two-for-one meal deals for the vaxxed and outdoor activations Aussies should be more excited than ever to visit their local.
From Merivale’s Justin Hemmes to the man behind the Laundy empire, Sydney’s hotel heavyweights have one thing in common - a love of a hearty feed and crisp beer and a vision of a summer pub comeback.
They’ve spent years creating Sydney’s favourite brew spots and now, as they prepare for ‘Freedom Day’ - slated for October 18 - the city’s pub barons say publicans should be more excited than ever to get back to their local watering hole.
While some things - like the one person per 4 sqm rule - will be different, others, like drinking while standing, mingling and pub favourites like trivia are expected to remain the same.
SAM ARNAOUT
The boss of the Iris Capital hospitality group Sam Arnaout has one of the most impressive pub portfolios in NSW, featuring popular local watering holes stretching from the city’s east to the west and into the regions.
His pub collection includes Manly’s beachside institution Hotel Steyne, the stylish Ivanhoe Hotel, the bustling after-hours gay bar The Colombian in Darlinghurst and Blacktown Tavern in the west.
Arnaout knows more than anyone what makes a good pub, having made acquisitions in Newcastle and the Central Coast in recent years - and with big plans to keep expanding.
“Pubs are a big part of the DNA of Australians. Pubs are really community meeting places,” he said.
“For us, we like to keep things as traditional as possible. We do believe in working with local communities, ensuring that we don’t fare too far away from what the locals expect which is just good food, beverages and local entertainment.”
As for what a visit to the pub will be like next month, expect old favourites like trivia and pool and some new measures like more alfresco dining and capacity limits.
“Your favourite things like playing trivia and the like will still continue but capacity will be the main driver. The government will determine when live entertainment will return,” he said.
There’s good reason to get excited for pubs to return, with Mr Arnaout hinting at some special perks for vaccinated patrons.
“We are looking to put something together along the lines of fully vaccinated people being allowed two for one meals but I don’t want to give too much else away.”
JUSTIN HEMMES
Billionaire publican Justin Hemmes is the largest single owner of some of Sydney’s favourite pubs and an industry titan, owning more than 70 venues across NSW.
After inheriting his parents’ inner Sydney property portfolio, Hemmes has transformed the Merivale empire into a giant of hospitality, becoming the 97th wealthiest person in Australia with a whopping $1.2 billion fortune.
The hospitality mogul is a big backer of the humble pub, splashing $150 million on new pub acquisitions through the pandemic including Cheeky Monkey’s in Byron Bay and Norton’s Pub in Leichhardt.
He has also diversified his portfolio in recent months by investing in regional venues. What might seem like a risky move as the Covid-19 outbreak brings many hospitality venues to their knees, is one he believes will pay off.
“There is a real excitement for socialising and experiencing life through food and entertainment - unlike anything we’ve seen before. We’re excited to embrace that and keep challenging ourselves to deliver the very best,” he said.
Unlike the more traditional brick pubs seen in the city’s suburbs, Hemmes’ venues tend to be more glamorous, up-scale pubs with stylish, modern features.
“Pubs are a vital part of Australia’s DNA. They reflect our history and help shape our culture; a place to gather, socialise, eat, drink and enjoy together,” he said.
“The hardships of the last year have only strengthened their enduring appeal … I’ve never been more optimistic and excited about the industry.”
Hemmes has an impressive pub portfolio behind him, owning around 23 pubs across NSW including the Coogee Pavilion, Newport Arms and Randwick’s Duke of Gloucester.
ELLIOT SOLOMON
For hospitality boss Elliot Solomon, a love of pubs runs in his blood, with his family having worked in the industry for almost a century.
Mr Solomon took over the reins of the Solotel hospitality empire in March after the former CEO Justine Baker stepped aside after 20 years at the helm.
But long before that, in the early 1900s, his distant relatives were working behind the scenes in the city’s pubs.
The fourth generation Solomon now manages 17 of some of the city’s most familiar pubs including The Golden Sheaf in Double Bay, The Erko, The Paddo Inn and The Clock.
Mr Solomon believes that pubs aren’t just places to have a good feed but an integral part of the community.
“The pub is such a cornerstone of Australian culture and, and really, it’s very much part of the fabric of each individual community,” he said.
“I feel a strong sense of responsibility for not just my family history, but also to ensure that we are kind of like custodians of this really important cultural piece in Australia.”
As Mr Solomon prepares to reopen venues when restrictions lift in mid-October, bookings are already starting to flood in.
The lockdown has given the company an opportunity to renovate some key venues including The Clock in Surry Hills, with plans now afoot to renovate the Kings Cross Hotel and Abercrombie Hotel.
And publicans have good reason to be excited to hit Solotel venues next month, with Mr Solomin sketching out plans for activations and other post-lockdown initiatives.
“We don’t know exactly what we’re gonna do specifically but we’ll definitely be doing some exciting stuff like activations with partners,” he said.
ARTHUR, CRAIG and STUART LAUNDY
Pub heir and former MP Craig Laundy is a giant of the city’s thriving pub industry, owning some of the state’s favourite traditional pubs.
If you’ve been to a pub in NSW, chances are the Laundy name is behind it. The Laundy Hotels empire owns pubs in almost every corner of the state from Wagga Wagga to the Hawkesbury.
He also owns popular inner city venues like The Oxford Hotel in Drummoyne, The Quarrymans Hotel in Pyrmont and well-known venues in the west like The Golden Fleece Hotel.
Mr Laundy is son to pub great Arthur Laundy and an executive with the Laundy Hotels pub group, which runs more than two dozen NSW venues.
He has been expanding the business into regional NSW throughout Covid-19, most recently acquiring a pub for $15 million at Evans Head.
PAUL WATERSON
The Australian Venue Co is one of the country’s biggest pub giants, managed by chief executive Paul Waterson.
The group owns more than 160 venues across Australia, including six pubs in NSW.
This includes the popular Albion Hotel in Albury and Beer de Luxe, Cargo and Bungalow 8 in Sydney CBD.
And while the past 18 months have been tough for the hospitality business, Mr Waterson has taken the opportunity to invest in dozens of new venues across the country - and for him, it’s a no-brainer.
“How many businesses have been operating out of the one location for more than 140 years? It’s a durable business model and we’re willing to invest through the cycle, knowing that there’s a really bright future ahead for the industry,” he said.
This rapid expansion strategy is set to continue, with the company soon to announce two new Sydney venues in coming weeks.
MITCHELL AND ASHTON WAUGH
Hotelier brothers Mitchell and Ashton Waugh own some of Sydney’s favourite local neighbourhood pubs.
This includes The Toxteth in Glebe, The Marrickville Ritz and The Royal in Paddington.
The pair are behind the Public House Management Group (PHMG) group, a hospitality group founded in 2014 with a focus on pubs that have become local favourites for many.
The group previously owned the popular Woollahra Hotel, before selling it in 2019 for $50 million.
PUBS: A KEY DRIVER OF THE ECONOMY
John Green, Director, Liquor and Policing at the Australian Hotels Association NSW said the state’s pubs are a vital cornerstone of the economy.
“There are about 2000 pubs across NSW, from family operated venues to multi-hotel groups to five star accommodation hotels. We directly employ 75,000 staff so are a key driver of the NSW economy – but so many more services and industries support pubs. Live music performers, cleaners, security, food and beverage providers are just some of the industries that rely on pubs for their income,” he said.
With NSW on track to open pubs and other hospitality venues to the vaccinated in mid-October, his message is clear: “If you want to get back to the pub for a drink or meal with mates, get vaccinated now!”
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