New venue operator for embattled pub baron Jon Adgemis’ pubs sacks staff amid ‘payroll’ issues

Embattled hospitality boss Jon Adgemis’ new venue operator has sacked staff after running into money troubles, with top chef George Calombaris finding himself caught up in a fresh payroll drama.

Embattled hospitality boss Jon Adgemis’ new venue operator has sacked staff after running into money troubles, with top chef George Calombaris finding himself in the middle of a fresh restaurant payroll drama.

Linchpin Hospitality assumed operation of Adgemis venues including The Empire Hotel in Annandale, The Lady Hampshire and the soon-to-be opened Noah’s Backpackers in Bondi in February.

But yesterday, several full-time staff at the business were let go, with sources reporting CEO Terry Soukoulis told the affected workers the business’s major backer, Deutsche Bank, had pulled the plug.

Deutsche Bank are among lead backers of the surviving venues from Adgemis’ collapsed Public Hospitality Group empire, which fell into administration last year owing an estimated $500m.

It comes as a June 17 email seen by The Daily Telegraph which was penned by Mr Soukoulis told staff about a “setback” in Linchpin’s payroll cash flow.

Embattled hospitality boss Jon Adgemis, whos pubs are being operated by Linchpin after he fell into financial trouble. Picture: David Swift

“Unfortunately there has been a delay in receiving funds from our overseas lending partners, which has impacted on the timing of the payroll run,” Mr Soukoulis wrote.

“I fully appreciate the stress and uncertainty this can cause and want to acknowledge the weight of that.”

Mr Soukoulis added Linchpin was “actively working with the lenders to expedite the release of funds”.

Terry Soukoulis, CEO of Linchpin.

The Lady Hampshire hotel in Camperdown is being run by Linchpin.

When contacted by The Daily Telegraph, Mr Soukoulis confirmed four staff had been let go on Wednesday, all from the marketing team at Linchpin.

He noted Linchpin managed staff on behalf of Adgemis’ hospitality venues.

“Venues will continue to operate,” he said. “We are contractors.”

Linchpin’s culinary director George Calombaris.

A Linchpin representative said in a statement: “As a business there were measures taken to realign due to the current revenue situation.

“We are working with the relevant team members on their separation payments and entitlements.”

The Empire Hotel on Parramatta Road in Annandale, is currently operated by Linchpin.

In 2019, former MasterChef judge turned Linchpin culinary director Mr Calombaris’ Made restaurant empire was fined $200,000 by the Fair Work Ombudsman and made to backpay $7.83 million after admitting to underpaying more than 500 employees.

Mr Calombaris, one of a host of Linchpin staff who used to work for Public Hospitality Group, designed the menu at The Empire Hotel’s new Chinese-Australian restaurant Double Happy.

Noahs Backpackers at Bondi Beach is another venue operated by Linchpin.

When approached for comment, Mr Calombaris said he was a “contractor to Linchpin and work on projects as I am needed”.

“I am currently working on my own pop up at the moment called Gazi in Darlinghurst, which is indpendent of Linchpin,” Mr Calombaris said.

Mr Adgemis was contacted for comment.

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Originally published as New venue operator for embattled pub baron Jon Adgemis’ pubs sacks staff amid ‘payroll’ issues