Dixon Hospitality nabs two Barangaroo bars

By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier

Dixon Hospitality continues its move into Sydney, purchasing two venue spaces in the new Barangaroo precinct.

The Melbourne-based hospitality group purchased two sites within the new Sydney harbour precinct, totalling 1300 square metres of space.

The larger property is a 1000 sqm space within Tower One, International Towers Sydney. The venue will comprise a contemporary bar and restaurant with a dessert kitchen. Dixon Hospitality will also open a rooftop bar on the top of the boutique commercial building in the precinct designed by architectural firm Durbach Block Jaggers. The rooftop bar will have Cuban and Art Deco aesthetics. Both venues are set to open at the end of 2016.

While Dixon Hospitality made its first foray into the Sydney market earlier this year with the purchase of Jaime Wirth’s Drinkndine venues, the group was looking for a location for its flagship Sydney venue, and CEO Bruce Dixon is very pleased with the Barangaroo positioning.

“Barangaroo is the perfect location for our flagship Sydney presence. The Barangaroo dining precinct will be world class and that is something we are committed to being part of.”

Dixon added that the flagship restaurant and bar will have a high-end, international feel.

“The restaurant will boast 270 degree water views via the floor to ceiling windows and is complemented by a feature bar area with dessert kitchen. It’s a concept more reminiscent of high-end New York destinations, where guests can enjoy cocktails with creations of our pastry chefs and relax late in the evening, we’re excited to offer that here in Sydney.”

To bring the level of sophistication that Dixon requires for the bar and restaurant, two-hatted executive chef Justin Wise will be relocating to Sydney from Melbourne to head up the venue.

Head of Retail Development and Asset Management for Lendlease, Gary Horwitz said Dixon Hospitality is emblematic of the type of offering that Barangaroo will bring to Sydneysiders.

“We are proud to be working with Dixon Hospitality Group, to bring not one, but two exciting new offerings to Barangaroo. These venues promise to be like nothing else on offer in the Sydney market, and we are confident that our 23,000 or so office workers, 1500 residents, plus surrounding neighbours will embrace their new local restaurant and rooftop bar.”

In the midst of so much expansion, speculation has been rife that Dixon Hospitality would float the company on the ASX300 very soon. A spokesperson for the group denied the claims, telling TheShout that an IPO would “absolutely not happen in this financial year.”

Dixon Hospitality’s rapid expansion shows no signs of slowing though, with the two new Barangaroo venues taking the groups tally to 32 venues in a little over twelve months.