Merivale has continued its current expansion program and also ended months of speculation about a move into the Byron Bay market, buying Cheeky Monkey’s Bar and Restaurant on Johnson Street in Byron.

The deal, which was brokered by JLL Hotels, is Merivale’s first move on the far north coast of New South Wales and comes after the group has made recent purchases, buying The Lorne Hotel on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, Tomasetti House in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD and Norton’s Irish Pub in Sydney’s inner-west.

Justin Hemmes, CEO of Merivale, said: “I’ve been going to Byron since I was ten years old, so it has always been a place close to my heart. I can’t wait to open our first venue on the North Coast and spend more time in the area. There’s simply no place like it.”

The vacant premises at 115 Johnson Street occupies an 827 sqm site, with 2am trading approvals and is situated in Byron’s town centre.

JLL Managing Director John Musca who negotiated the sale, said: “There is a measured, exciting development evolution in Byron Bay at present, and it’s fitting that community-sensitive operators of Merivale’s calibre are choosing to add their world-class brand to the township’s hospitality landscape.”

He added: “We’re delighted to have transacted circa $90m of fantastic hospitality assets to the Merivale Group over the past 10 weeks in bringing their market-leading and inventive approach to communities and hospitality offers around the country.”

Merivale will receive the keys to the venue on 28 May, and said it will announce further details on its plans for the venue in due course.

Andy Young

Andy joined Intermedia as Editor of The Shout in 2015, writing news on a daily basis and also writing features for National Liquor News. Now Managing Editor of both The Shout and Bars and Clubs.

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