The Leasehold Interest of Melbourne’s iconic Chapel Street venue, ‘Morris Jones’ has been taken to market, with the high-profile venue offered exclusively for sale via JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group’s Will Connolly and Lachlan Persley via Expressions of Interest.

A mainstay institution of Chapel Street, Morris Jones was a Windsor trailblazer since its opening in 2011 by well-known hospitality identity Hayden Burbank, paving the way for the now flourishing Windsor hospitality scene and cementing its reputation as one of Melbourne’s most successful venues. In the minds of Melburnians, Morris Jones has been front of mind for over a decade when debating their city’s most loved venues.

An extraordinary opportunity now presents for operators to acquire a thriving business, underpinned by recent refurbishments throughout, as well as inheriting advantageous lease terms with options of 18 years in total remaining, coupled with market rent. The venue features a fully equipped commercial kitchen, high-end fit-out with multiple dining and function spaces, along with a 1am ‘On-Premises’ liquor licence with a 280-person capacity positioned in the heart of the vibrant inner-city suburb of Windsor.

Long term owner, Hayden Burbank comments on a memorable 12 years with Morris Jones, “I’ve loved my time at Morris Jones and the passion still burns deeply, but personally I feel now is the right time for me to hand over the baton and let someone else take over the reins and allow me to move on with a new challenge. I’ve got some other exciting opportunities that I’ve had sitting on the backburner for some time now that I’d like to get my teeth stuck into, which will take my full focus.

“I take great pride in knowing that 12 years ago I, with Morris Jones, helped shape Windsor into the vibrant and exciting hospitality scene it now is, and I look forward to the next operator having the same enthusiasm and passion for hospitality and take over from where I left off.”

Will Connolly, Senior Vice President, JLL Hotels & Hospitality, comments “Morris Jones has for years been at the forefront of Melbourne’s revered hospitality landscape, and it’s rare that a venue of this profile is presented openly to market. Our vendor has provided us the ability to offer a true turn-key venue, to which we expect to receive interest from many of our city’s most prominent operators as we commence our marketing program.”

Housed in a historic warehouse conversion dating back to 1887, the venue was named in honour of the building’s original owner ‘Henry Morris Jones’, with Hayden Burbank determined to both honour the past and create his own legacy, with Morris Jones immediately becoming one of Melbourne’s leading hospitality venues, hosting internationally famed identities along with the ‘who’s who’ of Melbourne’s social scene.

Lachlan Persley, Executive, JLL Hotels & Hospitality, concludes “Many of Melbourne’s hospitality venues have a story to tell, such is the rich history our great city holds. The next exciting chapter for Morris Jones now lies with its next operator, and we’re thrilled to play a part in offering this spectacular venue to market and ensuring the story continues.”

The Leasehold Interest in Morris Jones, Windsor is available via Expressions of Interest closing 5pm Wednesday 26 July 2023.