Team behind South Yarra hotspot Gilson offer lifeline to flailing Windsor venue Morris Jones

The Windsor venue, which abruptly closed its doors earlier this year, is set to change hands, with the owners of popular eatery Gilson seemingly looking for their next venture

A rumoured sale is in the works for Morris Jones, founded by Hayden Burbank, after the venue suddenly closed its doors in February. Picture: supplied

Windsor venue Morris Jones is set to receive a lifeline via the owners of popular South Yarra restaurant Gilson.

It’s believed a sale is close after Morris Jones, founded by Hayden Burbank, suddenly closed its doors in February.

Gilson is one of Domain Road’s most popular venues and talk of the town is its owners would transform the Chapel St venue into a brand new late night hotspot.

Two recent farewell parties hosted by Hayden Burbank at Morris Jones have angered works who felt mistreated. Picture: Mark Stewart

Morris Jones was said to have changed hands last July with a group of four owners and they, along with former staff, say they are owed money.

Two recent farewell parties hosted by Burbank at Morris Jones have angered the workers who told the Herald Sun they feel “really mistreated”.

One former manager said she had made a complaint to the Fair Work Commission and some staff had been buying alcohol from their own pockets in the final days.

“None of the casuals got paid for the last week, plus all the suppliers, the chefs, the DJs, promoters and the kitchen staff,’’ she said.

South Yarra eatery Gilson on Domain Rd is one of Melbourne’s most popular venues. Picture: Sarah Matray

“We had to run down to Dan Murphy’s to buy because we’d run out of stock. We never got told the venue would shut, there was no notice.”

Burbank, who was jailed over a 2021 border breach to watch his beloved Demons win the grand final in Perth, stepped away from operating the bar business in November 2021 when he resigned as a director of Bambou Restaurant Pty Ltd, the company that traded as Morris Jones & Co.

Burbank declined to comment when contacted about the sale.