The Publican Group has announced it’s putting Nedlands restaurant and bar The Byrneleigh Hotel up for sale as it launches a diversification strategy.
The group has expanded to owning five bars in Perth and 10 in Melbourne since being founded in 2008 by John Ahern and Steve Garcia.
It has now announced plans to diversify its portfolio of hospitality venues by acquiring what it’s called ‘supersites’.
Mr Ahern said the group was looking to add three such venues to its group of bars and was seeking acquisition opportunities in both Perth and Melbourne.
Four bars would be put up for sale to facilitate those acquisitions, including The Byrneleigh.
The Publican Group recently bought the Guildford Hotel and this week began renovations with an aim of opening late next year.
Mr Ahern said that acquisition indicated the group’s interest in expanding outside of Perth and Melbourne.
The group’s most recent venture in Perth is Public House on Adelaide Terrace, which opened last year.
It also owns Wolf Lane, The Aviary and The George.
The group's decision to sell The Byrneleigh comes in the same week as ALH Group offloaded 54 pubs and liquor stores, including nine in WA.
ALH, which is 75 per cent owned by Woolworths, said on Monday the portfolio of venues was being sold to Charter Hall Group and hospitality industry superfund Hostplus for $603 million.
Of the WA venues, Woolworths has confirmed the Hyde Park Hotel, the Greenwood Tavern, the Belmont Tavern, Bunbury's Highway Hotel, Lakers Tavern in Thornlie, Dunsborough Tavern, Peel Alehouse, Bull Creek Tavern and the Herdsman Lake Tavern in Wembley are part of the sell-off.
