Maypole Hotel: Clark MP Kristie Johnston buys share in New Town pub slated for closure
Independent Clark MP Kristie Johnston has revealed she is the proud co-owner of a Hobart pub that briefly closed after a sale fell through. She plans on breathing new life into the venue.
Tasmania
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Independent Clark MP Kristie Johnston has bought into a Hobart hotel to save it from closing.
She’s joined co-owners of the Maypole Hotel at New Town Ester and Justin Devine and says being an MP is still her “number one” priority.
Ms Johnston is pleased to be following in the footsteps of Justin’s father the late John Devine, who as well as being a legendary footballer, was also a hotelier and Labor MP for Denison, now Clark.
“Many MPs have interests in family businesses and I would be no different,” she said.
“I hope that by being a small business owner myself I will be able to better understand and represent that part of my community – the firsthand experience will be invaluable.
“I like to think that John would be a little chuffed to think that another member for Clark is back behind the bar pouring beers.”
Justin jokes that after he was born, the youngest of six children, he left Calvary Hospital and went straight to the family’s pub, the Waggon and Horses in North Hobart.
“We’re very excited to have Kristie on board,” he said.
“It’s a gambling-free, family friendly place in keeping with Kristie’s philosophy.”
Ester said: “If Kristie hadn’t come along the pub would have gone.”
Justin took over as licensee of the historic hotel 10 years ago and after battling Covid and the development of neighbouring Dan Murphy’s, the couple was ready to call time.
But when the sale fell through at the last minute, Ms Johnston stepped in to save her local.
“Like many in the community, I felt a real loss. The pub is an extension of many of our living rooms and I couldn’t see it go,” she said.
“In the days after the closure I reached out to Justin and Ester to see if we could work together to make sure they could get more time with their family, as they well deserve, and the Maypole could re-open again for the community.”
The people who patronised the Maypole, she said, “were from all walks of life and we were always made to feel welcome and like family”
“It was a place where community groups met, new local musicians had an opportunity to show off their talent,
“I’ve been a long-time advocate of pokie-free, family-friendly establishments, and I saw this as an opportunity to put my money where my mouth is and keep something pretty special alive.”
Ms Johnston has never worked in hospitality but has already completed her responsible serving of alcohol accreditation.
Despite tough economic times she predicts a bright future for the Maypole “because it offers something genuine – a place for community connection. We are not trying to be fancy or trendy.”