Australian Venue Co invests in recovery of Melbourne industry

Australian Venue Co has acquired three new pubs in Melbourne, anticipating a strong economic recovery and record consumer demand this summer.

The three new locations will bring the group’s Victorian portfolio to a total of 38 locations. In Melbourne and the Victoria region, Australian Venue Co has focused on acquiring and revitalizing iconic heritage places and iconic destinations.

The acquisitions are the Village Belle Hotel in St Kilda, the Ball Court Hotel in Sunbury and the Victoria Hotel in Yarraville. The settlement of the Village Belle Hotel will take place at the end of November and the reopening of the other two sites currently closed under AVC management will take place in November and December respectively.

Australian Venue Co CEO Paul Waterson said the acquisitions reflect the group’s confidence in the industry.

“It has been a tough 18 months for the industry, but we are a resilient company and we are focused on the future. It’s full steam ahead now, ”he said.

“The people of Melbourne have missed the pub and they are coming out en masse. Many of our ads have been in the community for over a hundred years, and they’re not going anywhere. We are committed to investing in the industry and keeping these ads open for decades to come.

“These new acquisitions are great community ads, and we’re excited to be a part of their next chapter as we all look to the future. We are delighted to open their doors for a fun summer of reuniting with family and friends and returning to the pub.

Hotel Village Belle, St. Kilda

The Village Belle Hotel opened in 1891 and underwent a full renovation in 2017. The heritage hotel is a local landmark, comprising a beer garden, public bar and lounge over two floors and four zones separate commercials. AVC will settle the sale at the end of November and begin operations in December. There are no plans to make any major changes to the site.

The sale represents one of Metro Melbourne’s largest rental transactions of this year in this category to date and breathes new life into the area following Melbourne’s sixth foreclosure.

Ball Court Hotel, Sunbury

The Ball Court Hotel was built in the 1870s and the pub is the only 19th century hotel remaining in Sunbury and retains its characteristic corner facade. The historic country pub currently includes a number of areas where patrons can drink and dine. Australian Venue Co refreshes and revitalizes the pub to improve the flow of the place and create a better experience for customers.

When it reopens on Thursday 11 November, the Ball Court Hotel will offer a bistro, wine bar, beer garden, sports bar, banquet hall and in-car bottle shop.

Victoria Hotel, Yarraville

Founded in 1873, the Victoria Hotel has served the local community for nearly 150 years. AVC revitalizes pub spaces to make it the best family venue in the west, a destination for sports enthusiasts, the perfect choice for receptions and the perfect place to enjoy casual get-togethers with friends and colleagues.

AVC has already started refreshing the historic pub. Closed by previous tenants since the start of Lockdown 6, the venue is slated to reopen on December 5.

Earlier this year, the group reopened the historic Sarah Sands Hotel in Brunswick after a major renovation, and acquired Bimbo in Fitzroy, which will reopen as Kewpie on November 8.