The Butler: Potts Point restaurant in the fight of its life against “destructive” development

A mainstay for celebrities since the original venue opened in the ‘70s, plans for luxury apartments threatens the iconic view - and future - of a beloved Potts Point restaurant.

A battle is looming between Potts Point mainstay The Butler and a developer with plans to erect a seven-storey apartment building which would destroy the venue’s panoramic views of the city skyline.

If the plans are given the green light, locals fear the million-dollar view which attracts international celebrities like Gerard Butler and Andrew Garfield, along with with an assortment of Sydney-based influencers and MAFS stars, would be severely impacted.

Owner of Sydney hospitality group Applejack - which holds The Butler in its stable of restaurants - Ben Carroll told the Wentworth Courier the proposed development would fundamentally change the restaurant.

“They’re going to build bedrooms two metres from our terrace,” he said.

“Yes, we‘ve got amazing food and drinks and service and atmosphere. But without the view… that’s our main draw card.

View of Sydney’s CBD from The Butler.

“You can‘t see a view like that [anywhere else] in Sydney. Particularly in a restaurant where most of the restaurant can be sitting down and enjoying that [view].”

International developer Third.i Development Group submitted plans to City of Sydney in mid-April for a luxury apartment building located on the same block as The Butler restaurant.

The view threatened by a proposed development on Victoria Street, Potts Point.

The $22 million development would see luxury seven-storey apartment building attached to The Butler terrace, seeing a portion of the impressive view blocked.

Mr Carroll said Applejack would consider closing down or reimagining the beloved venue if the development proceeds, with a ‘Save the Butler’ campaign launched.

“It‘s also a very close knit community [here in Potts Point] and there’s a lot of long term residents who embrace the history,” Mr Carroll said.

“(However) we‘ve had a representative from the developers reach out to us …telling us to back off.

“It‘s another nail in the coffin for the cultural soul of Potts Point [which has faced] overdevelopment for years and years. We’re going to make sure that we object to this in a fair way.”

The Butler is in a heritage-listed building and has been a restaurant space for over 70 years.