Tennyson Hotel set for ‘refresh’ by new owner Justin Hemmes

THE LONG-time residents of the Tennyson Hotel are set to move on, with the iconic Mascot pub itself getting a new Justin Hemmes-style lease of life.

Residents of Botany’s Tennyson Hotel Keith Christie, Gary Coleman, Marilyn Thompson and Gary Cossey have been asked to move out by January 28 after Justin Hemmes' Merivale Group bought the hotel. Picture: Danny Aarons.

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THE LONG-TIME residents of the Tennyson Hotel are set to move on, with the iconic Mascot pub itself getting a new lease of life.

Hotel magnate Justin Hemmes splashed out $37.05 million on the Botany Rd pub on December 1, adding it to an impressive property portfolio including The Newport Arms and The Alexandria Hotel.

Marilyn Thompson and her partner have been renting a room at the Tennyson for eleven and a half years. She said she and her neighbours were “gobsmacked” when previous owners JDA Hotels told them they had to go.

“We were given a letter the week before Christmas to say that the new owners wanted everybody out by the 28th of January,” Ms Thompson said.

“Our plan was to buy a Winnebago and travel but we’re talking time constraints and we have to work out our superannuation money and make plans ... it’s not a good feeling.”

The Tennyson Hotel Botany is set for a ‘general refresh’ by new owners Merivale after Justin Hemmes bought the pub for $37.05 million on December 1. Picture: Danny Aarons.

The unsigned letter offered final week’s rent free to anyone who had paid up until January 21, and apologised for any inconvenience.

Ms Thompson said her neighbours included a war veteran with no family nearby, and another who’d told her they would sleep in their car if worse came to worse.

The residents were hopeful they could have more time to find somewhere else to live.

“I would have thought two or three months’ notice would have been more acceptable, but I guess the new owner has bought the property so he’s allowed to do what he likes with it.”

Pub baron Justin Hemmes at another of his venues, The Newport. Picture: Martin Lange.

A spokeswoman for Merivale said there were no immediate plans to continue with the hotel accommodation.

“The contract for sale of the venue provided for vacant possession of the whole venue with a settlement date of 30 January and we are bound by the terms of the contract,” the spokeswoman said.

“The contracted extended settlement period allowed the vendor two months to provide notice to any current hotel accommodation guests.”

Merivale had no immediate plans for a major refurbishment of the hotel, instead undertaking a general refresh, and upgrading the food and beverage options.

“Further details regarding Merivale’s future plans for the venue will be announced in due course,” the spokeswoman said.