Owner of Marine Hotel in Brighton promises auction won’t spell the end for beer at the pub

THE owner of a bayside pub is promising beers will still be served on tap even though the hotel land will be sold to the highest bidder next month.

The Marine hotel, an icon in Bayside, is up for sale. The latest in a string of pub sales in the foreshore suburbs. Picture: Richard Serong

MARINE Hotel operator Craig McDonald has guaranteed the Brighton pub will not be closing its doors.

Mr McDonald said he had a lease for 27 years to run the New St venue.

He said the April 7 auction referred to in last week’s Bayside Leader would not result in the pub closing.

Mr McDonald said he will retain the rights to continue operating it as a hotel regardless of who bought the land.

“I will be running it as a going concern,” Mr McDonald said

“We are not going anywhere, I’m not a developer, I’m an hotelier with other hotels as well.

“For me it is a long-term operation and I guarantee we will be open (as a hotel) for another 27 years.”

He said it was a profitable concern because of their pokies.

“I wouldn’t break the lease, gaming venues are solid businesses, I won’t be changing that,” he said.

“Again, I guarantee it will be kept running as a hotel.”

The selling agents said they have had over 200 inquires so far.

In recent times the Beaumaris and nearby Mentone foreshore hotels have shut, Brighton’s Khyat’s has closed and even the Beaumaris RSL has given up keeping drinkers hydrated.

The Red Bluff and Hampton hotels are also no more.

The auction is on Thursday, April 7 at noon.