Australian Venue Co has acquired three new pub venues in Melbourne, in expectation of a strong economic recovery and record consumer demand this summer.

The three new venues will bring the group’s Victorian portfolio to a total of 38 venues. Across Melbourne and regional Victoria, Australian Venue Co has focused on acquiring and revitalising iconic heritage venues and landmark destinations.

The acquisitions are Village Belle Hotel in St Kilda, Ball Court Hotel in Sunbury and The Victoria Hotel in Yarraville. Settlement of Village Belle Hotel will take place at the end of November and re-openings of the other two, currently closed, venues under AVC management will be in November and December respectively.

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

“It’s been a challenging 18 months for the industry, but we’re a resilient business and we’re focused on the future. It’s full steam ahead now,” he said.

“Melburnians have missed the pub and they’re coming out in droves. Many of our pubs have been part of the community for more than a hundred years, and they’re not going anywhere. We’re committed to investing in the industry and keeping these pubs open for decades to come.”

“These new acquisitions are beautiful community pubs, and we’re excited to be part of their next chapter as we all look forward to the future. We’re excited to open their doors for a fun summer of catching up with family and friends, and getting back to the pub.”

Village Belle Hotel, St Kilda

The Village Belle Hotel opened in 1891 and was extensively renovated in 2017. The heritage hotel is a local landmark, encompassing a beer garden, public bar and cocktail lounge across two floors and four distinct trading areas. AVC will settle on the sale at the end of November and begin operations in December. There are no plans to make major changes to the venue.

The sale represents one of this year’s largest Metro Melbourne leasehold transactions in this category to date and breathes a fresh air of activity within the sector after Melbourne’s sixth lockdown.

Ball Court Hotel, Sunbury

Ball Court Hotel was constructed in the 1870’s and the pub is the only remaining 19th century hotel in Sunbury and it maintains its characteristic corner frontage. The historic country pub currently incorporates a number of spaces for customers to drink and dine. Australian Venue Co is refreshing and revitalising the pub to improve the flow of the venue and create a better experience for guests.

On re-opening on Thursday 11th November, the Ball Court Hotel will offer a bistro, wine bar, beer garden, sports bar, function room and drive through bottle shop.

The Victoria Hotel, Yarraville

Established in 1873, The Victoria Hotel has been serving the local community for nearly 150 years. AVC is revitalising the pub spaces to make it the best family friendly venue in the west, a destination for sports fans, the ideal choice for functions and the perfect spot to enjoy casual catch ups with friends and co-workers.

AVC has already begun the refresh of the historic pub. Having been closed by the previous tenants since the start of Lockdown 6, the venue is slated to re-open on 5th December.

Earlier this year, the group re-opened the historic Sarah Sands Hotel in Brunswick after an extensive renovation, and acquired Bimbo in Fitzroy, which will re-open under the name Kewpie on 8th November.