Lansdowne Hotel pulls plug on live music

In a blow to Sydney’s live music scene, the iconic Lansdowne Hotel will close its music venue in April and operator Mary’s Group will exit its lease.

The pub’s landlords decided to replace the pub’s upstairs music venue, the Gig Room, with additional hostel accommodation, said Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham of Mary’s Group.

This development was not part of their vision for the venue, they said, and they would as a result not be renewing their lease.

“We are heartbroken to announce that our time with the beloved Lansdowne Hotel is coming to an end,” the pair wrote on Instagram.

“Our lease is due to expire in the coming months, and the Landlords have chosen to close the Gig Room to build more Hostel accommodation.

“This was not a part of our vision for the Lansdowne, and as such, we have decided to call time on our custodianship of this iconic live music venue.”

The venue, which reopened in 2017 after years of closures and lockouts, has played an important role in the Sydney music scene over the years.

The Lansdowne has hosted live music more than four times a week at its music venue which holds 400 people.

“Our reopening of the Lansdowne in June 2017 marked a seismic shift in the Live Music scene in Sydney, after years of closures and devastating lockouts,” Mary’s wrote.

“2022 was shaping up to be one of the busiest at the Lansdowne, due to the growing community of artists and punters who are passionate supporters of music, art and culture. It is deeply upsetting to call time on an icon, at the height of her powers.

“Despite this tough announcement today, we promise to continue to build stages and create spaces for the voices of our glorious city to emerge.”

Mary’s Group said it will work with its landlords to facilitate gigs until the lease ends. The fate of the venue’s downstairs public bar following their departure has yet to be announced.