Famous Melbourne pubs to hit the market in 2022

These pubs have part of the fabric of Melbourne for decades — in some cases — centuries. Now you have the chance to be the landlord.

Punters at The Quiet Man pub in Flemington gets ready for a big St Patrick’s Day.

If you’ve ever wanted to own your own pub, the post-pandemic market is full of watering holes popular with punters.

Most business owners made it through the Covid slump and are now thriving, but others have decided to take a step away from the volatile hospitality industry while the market’s still hot.

Check out our list of the biggest pubs to hit the market this year.

The Esplanade Hotel in the heart of St Kilda is on the market. Picture: Commercial Real Estate.

The Espy, St Kilda

The Esplanade Hotel has been a mainstay of the Melbourne pub scene since opened in 1878, and again after a massive 18-month restoration in 2018.

Covering five levels, the Espy offers customers the choice of 12 bars, two restaurants, live music stages, function rooms and a terrace with a retractable glass roof.

It can serve up to 1696 people at any time and is renowned for hosting music legends in its famed music room, the Gershwin Room.

Sitting at 11 The Esplanade, overlooking Port Phillip Bay, the popular destination is rarely quiet which is why listing agent and Gorman Allard Shelton director Joseph Walton calls this opportunity a “once in a lifetime” investment.

“The Espy is irreplaceable and representative of Melbourne’s heart and soul,” he said.

“This property is truly a once in a lifetime investment opportunity.”

The landmark freehold comes with a price tag of $70m and a “first-class” tenant in Australian Venue Company.

Cherry Tree Hotel in Richmond has long been part of the fabric of Melbourne.

Cherry Tree Hotel, Cremorne

A pub that boasts a colourful past and more recent reputation as a foodie scene hotspot hit the market earlier this year for the first time in 30 years.

The storeyed history of Cherry Tree Hotel dates back to 1860, and later had the distinction of being the location for the start of Melbourne gangster Leslie “Squizzy” Taylor’s criminal career when he stole ten shillings from behind the bar aged just 16.

More recently, Dennis “Mr Death” Allen, the infamous brothel owner, rapist and accused murderer, held court in the bar.

Now, the coveted venue has been heralded as one of the “best positioned city fringe pubs in Melbourne” and has become a pillar of the Cremorne community.

Originally built on a cherry orchard, the local favourite was listed with Teska Carson Real Estate with leading agent, Matthew Feld, assuring the public the hotel’s chequered past is firmly behind it.

“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,” he said.

The future of the pub is yet to be determined after its sale on September 15.

The Exciting McGillicuddies band out the front of The Quiet Man. Picture: Richard Serong.

The Quiet Man Irish Hotel, Flemington

The Flemington pub recently saved from a wrecking ball is up for grabs and comes complete with a drive-through bottle shop.

An application was made in 2017 to redevelop The Quiet Man Irish Pub into a 46-apartment hotel in a multimillion-dollar development by Monolith International which caused online backlash from the local community.

“The Quiet Man is not just a themed pub or a restaurant but a cultural and social hub of this community,” Tiffanni Walton said.

Yulanda Mickelburough added: “This is a well known pub with great character. It brings people from all over town.”

The application lapsed when the building owners changed, but now the hotel is looking for another owner.

Located at 265-271 Racecourse Rd The Quiet Irish Man comes with a public bar, dining room and bistro, a commercial kitchen, courtyard and beer garden as well as its very own drive-through bottle shop.

The potential for the land to be redeveloped is still on the cards, but the new owner will have to convince the adoring community.

The Watering Hole Tavern in Monbulk is up for grabs. Picture: Supplied.

The Watering Hole Tavern, Monbulk

A little further out of town sits the popular Watering Hole Tavern, which offers the new buyer a full roster of friendly staff and a reputation to boot.

After being restored by the owners about four years ago, the tavern is now a bustling venue for locals and visitors to grab a pint, pizza and catch-up with friends.

The prospective buyer is able to take over the freehold and business for $1.5m including all fixtures and fittings — the pool table can be signed over with a handshake.

The space has plenty of outdoor seating, on the front veranda and in the rear beer garden, a cosy indoor dining room, a bar, a large commercial kitchen with storage and a laundry as well as a wood-fired pizza oven.

Lloyd Nunn from Real Commercial said this investment offered the buyer a chance to be their own boss and was a cheaper alternative to its city counterparts.

“The advantage of buying this Monbulk pub is the overhead costs are considerably cheaper compared to a place closer to the city,” he said.

“The customers and staff are already there — you basically just hand over the cash and we’ll give you the keys.”