The Cherry Tree Hotel: pub on the hunt for new owners

A pub with a colourful past where the likes of Squizzy Taylor and Dennis “Mr Death” Allen (dis)graced the bar is on the market.

The Cherry Tree Hotel in Cremorne — with its colourful past — is up for sale for the first time in 30 years.

A pub that quenched the thirst of some of Melbourne’s most colourful — and dangerous — — men and which has now become part of the inner suburbs foodie scene is on the market

The Cherry Tree Hotel perhaps needs no introduction to older readers, who have heard the stories about Dennis “Mr Death” Allen holding court in the bar, but its history goes all the way back to 1860.

Melbourne underworld figure Leslie “Squizzy” Taylor, began his criminal career at the Cherry Tree Hotel when he was 16.

The first big name Melbourne gangster of the 20th century, Leslie “Squizzy” Taylor, began his criminal career at the Cherry Tree Hotel, stealing 10 shillings from behind the bar at just 16.

The corner pub also hosted Dennis “Mr Death” Allen, infamous brothel owner, rapist and accused murderer.

Dennis Allen (left), called the Cherry Tree Hotel his local.

The hotel, originally built on a cherry orchard, has been listed with Teska Carson Real Estate.

Leading agent Matthew Feld said he expected the infamous pub to attract a hefty sum.

“The asking price is $6.5 million, and we do expect to achieve that,” he said.

“Whether it will go for more than that is hard to say at this stage, because we are two weeks out from closing the expressions of interest date.”

Of the pub’s colourful history, Mr Feld assured any future investors that those stories were firmly in the past.

“There definitely has been some notorious patrons of the pub in the past, given that a number of them lived in the local area, it’s no surprise,” Mr Feld said.

Mr Feld said interest in the Cherry Tree Hotel had been “positive” so far, but couldn’t confirm whether the pub’s tenancy would continue after the existing three-year contract.

“It will depend on who buys the property and what they want to do with it,” he said.

A coveted location, the hotel is not just a historical landmark for Melbourne culture and folklore, it has also been heralded as one “the best positioned city fringe pubs in Melbourne”.

A pillar of the tight-knit Cremorne community, the Cherry Tree Hotel is considered to be a part of the ‘heart and soul’ of the area.

Expressions of interest close on August 31, 2022.

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