Star Group poised to take over Raintrees Tavern from ALH
A national liquor outlet with dozens of venues throughout Queensland is set to establish its most northern hotel after ALH pulled the pin on operation of the Raintrees Tavern.
Cairns
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A national liquor outlet with dozens of venues throughout Queensland is set to establish its most northern hotel after ALH pulled the pin on operation of the Raintrees Tavern.
In a shock announcement, parent company of ALH Hotels, the Endeavour Group, called last drinks for Manunda’s Raintrees Tavern earlier this month due to dwindling profit margins.
ALH Hotels stated the Raintrees lease will not be renewed beyond June 28.
Under ALH Raintrees Tavern celebrated a 20-year history of offering a local watering hole for Manunda locals.
With the exit of the mainstay Raintrees Shopping Centre tenant, it was feared the venue and on site drive through bottle shop would languish empty for months before a new tenant was found.
But this week it was revealed the tavern would keep trading until July 31.
Following solid interest in taking over the tavern from August 1, Star Group could be the tenant.
Raintrees Shopping Centre manager Sheila Neil would not comment on the incoming tenants, or if the centre has been in negotiations with the Star Group.
“I can’t comment on leasing,” she said.
Queensland’s largest independently owned pub and liquor group, Star Group already manages a portfolio of 38 licensed venues and 90+ retail liquor outlets and would be a good fit for the tavern tenancy and current BWS bottle shop.
The Star Group, led by Tully-born hotel boss Steven Shoobridge, runs pubs in Brisbane, Townsville, Rockhampton, Ayr, Maroochydore, Mackay, Tully, Bowen, Murgon, Gladstone, Yeppoon, Bargara and elsewhere.
However until recent interest in the Raintrees Tavern, the city of Cairns has been conspicuously absent from the group’s Queensland pub and liquor portfolio.
Star managing director Steven Shoobridge said there had been discussions about taking on the lease but “but nothing has advanced at this stage.”
Originally published as Star Group poised to take over Raintrees Tavern from ALH
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