Four in Hand Hotel, Paddington sold to PHMG
The Four in Hand Hotel in Paddington is the latest freehold hotel to sell in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
Publican Mitchell Waugh's Public House Management Group added again to its portfolio acquiring the popular pub for around $8 million.
The sale was brokered by Andrew Jolliffe and Joel Fisher of Ray White Hotels.
PHMG's strategy is to acquire iconic Capri on valuable land including Mosman's Buena Vista, The Woollahra Hotel and Paddington's Royal Hotel.
The past four acquisitions had all been predicated upon acquiring inherently valuable real estate, with historically robust cash flow businesses, Fairfax Media reported.
The Four in Hand, which was offered by a syndicate headed by industry veteran Joe Saleh and chef Colin Fassnidge, attracted more than 45 inquiries.
Andrew Jolliffe has now secured over $185 million worth of sales in the eastern suburbs in recent times including the Surry Hills hotel, The Dolphin.
"The 4, as it is affectionately known, is an institution in the Sydney pub landscape," Mr Jolliffe said.
"Melbourne has a number of these great food and beverage icons like the Four in Hand, however, unfortunately they are few and far between in Sydney. That's why this is such a special hotel."
It had over $4.75 million in total sales in FY2015.
The 375 sq m Paddington corner holding had a recent $1 million renovation.
Lantern Hotels CEO John Osborne confirmed that the sale of the Dolphin Hotel was in line with the group's previously publicized strategy following an internal positioning review earlier in 2015.
"The Lantern Board and Management have taken the view that the repositioning of the company is a necessary step to unlocking shareholder value.
"Accordingly, the divestment of the Dolphin Hotel is both an important and positive step in order to focus the company's core competencies and resources into the areas which will provide the greatest outcome for shareholders" said Mr Osborne.
While not willing to disclose the identity of the purchaser, Andrew Jolliffe advised the purchaser was illustrative of the changing complexion of investors in the hospitality sector.
"He has enjoyed considerable success in an alternative but not entirely unrelated industry; and now applies this invaluable retail and marketing experience base to a sector which, fundamentally, is all about retail and marketing" Mr Jolliffe said.
"The purchaser of the Dolphin Hotel owns other hugely successful hospitality properties in Surry Hills and the broader Eastern Suburbs, and will undoubtedly draw on this knowledge bank to provide the Dolphin with a narrative that will see it participate prominently in the changing face of the Surry Hills and Moore Park precincts over the coming years" Mr Jolliffe believes.