Bar Margaux, The Everleigh close their doors as liquidators appointed

The two award-winning venues have had liquidators appointed in another cruel blow to Melbourne’s famed hospitality sector.

Bar Margaux has announced it is shutting.

Two popular and well-established Melbourne venues have closed, in another hit to the city’s battered hospitality industry.

The CBD’s Bar Margaux and award-winning sibling venue, the Everleigh cocktail bar on Gertrude St in Fitzroy, both revealed on social media at the same time on Wednesday afternoon that they were shutting their doors.

It is understood liquidators were appointed on Tuesday.

The stylish city basement Bar Margaux – which claimed to offer “Australia’s most decadent burger” – said on Instagram it was “sadly saying bonne nuit to Melbourne’s Lonsdale Street”.

“Born as a love letter to late night dining six years-ago, this beautiful basement has sparkled like a diamond in the rough, welcoming all walks (of life) to make memories over petit martinis and steak frites,” the post said.

Bar Margaux says it has welcomed all walks of life over the years.

About 30,000 wall tiles were laid by hand at Bar Margaux. Picture: garethsobey.com

Oysters and a petit martini at Bar Margaux. Picture: garethsobey.com

“We have poured our hearts into every detail, such as the 30,000 wall tiles we laid by hand, and are so proud of the influence Margaux has had on this country since its inception.”

The post finished by thanking its team members and guests over the years, as well as offering a message of hope that a culture of late night dining would “live on in this special city”.

The Everleigh, which was opened in 2011 by couple Michael and Zara Madrusan, posted that after 14 years “that little glimmer of light on Gertrude St has gone out for the last time”.

Michael and Zara Madrusan. Picture: Supplied

“The Everleigh has meant so much to so many, hosted so many memorable moments, and we will be forever proud of what this beautiful bar has delivered and accomplished as one of the world’s best cocktail bars,” it said.

“The legacy speaks for itself.”

The Everleigh made the highly coveted World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2013 and 2014 and won Australian Bartender Cocktail Bar of the Year in 2018.

Ms Madrusan told the Herald Sun in November last year — when it was revealed the premier hospitality group was in financial strife — the entire Melbourne industry was facing “really difficult challenges”.

“Looking at restaurants and breweries being forced to close on a daily basis is really sad and the industry isn’t getting the support it needs to thrive in Melbourne,” she said.

“(For us), we didn’t really feel the impacts of Covid until later on. The costs involved in restarting the businesses were large – switching everything back on and re-employing staff.

“In lockdown there was some support but that’s no longer available to us.”

Ms Madrusan said there needed to be incentives around supporting spending in the sector and initiatives to help offset rising costs.

“The cost of food and alcohol and rent, everything. None of those things have been held. And there’s also a pressure not to raise prices,” she said.

“Margins across the board are slimmer than they’ve ever been. There needs to be celebration for the small businesses that are fighting hard to survive and deserve to get attention.”