Miss Moneypenny’s Broadbeach, Fat Freddy’s sold ahead of redevelopment

The owner of a multimillion-dollar Broadbeach dining precinct has announced its sale, in what will be the end of an era for many locals. FULL DETAILS

The owner of a much loved multimillion-dollar Broadbeach dining precinct has announced its sale.

Ben Walsh announced on Tuesday he had sold popular restaurant/sports bar Fat Freddy’s and its high-end dining neighbour Miss Moneypenny’s.

The CEO of The Good Time Group revealed the decision had not come “overnight” – but had been in the making for the past nine months.

“It’s bittersweet for me,” he said.

“I’m proud of what I built there – I built something really different, two venues at the opposite end of the spectrum being Fat Freddy’s next to Miss Moneypenny’s, but they were both really cool offerings. It was a good five-and-a-half years.”

Miss Moneypenny's in Broadbeach.

Miss Moneypenny’s Broadbeach had been awarded the prestigious AGFG chef hat from 2021 – 2024 and was crowned the best restaurant inside a hotel in Queensland, while Fat Freddy’s topped the list as one of the best sports bars in Australia.

Mr Walsh said he had never intended to sell the venues, but had been approached with the idea a year ago.

Having initially turned down the offer for three months, Mr Walsh said the prospect of redevelopment at the Broadbeach site made it “more apparent” that the timing may be right.

“There was talk of the development of the site and how that would have affected the footprint of Miss Moneypenny’s,” he said.

Ben Walsh at Miss Moneypenny's in Broadbeach. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Then there were other opportunities interstate that I wanted to put focus into, so at the end of the day for me after about three months of saying no it just started to sit with me.”

Mr Walsh said the days of Fat Freddy’s and Miss Moneypenny’s on the Gold Coast “aren’t over yet” – with both brands still owned by him as a condition of the sale.

“I’ve held onto those brands and I plan on using them again,” he said.

“My days on the Gold Coast aren’t over. I’ll just hold out for the right opportunity, the right location potentially in a new development and hopefully can give Miss Moneypenny’s back to Gold Coasters.

Fat Freddy's Beach Bar & Diner in Broadbeach. Staff member Sarah Munro. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I still have my baby, Miss Moneypenny’s Noosa, which I will spend more time at,” he said.

“I thank everyone who visited and enjoyed the Broadbeach venues, and my awesome team. We’ve had a lot of reactions, a lot of people are a little upset but again, it doesn’t mean I’ll never open a Miss Moneypenny’s or Fat Freddy’s on the Gold Coast again. I’m excited for what the future holds.”

Mr Walsh also announced the sale of Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel.

Originally published as Miss Moneypenny’s Broadbeach, Fat Freddy’s sold ahead of redevelopment