By Clyde Mooney
A team of successful Melbourne publicans has confirmed it is the buyer of Sydney's celebrated music venue, the Sandringham Hotel in Newtown.
The team responsible for Melbourne's Corner Hotel and Northcote Social Club have purchased the 'Sando' in a deal that came to light earlier this week.
The rebirthed venue will be known as the Newtown Social Club, and already boasts over 1600 ‘Likes’ on Facebook.
A spokesperson for the new owners told TheShout they are "very much looking forward to opening the Newtown Social Club in the first half of 2013".
The Corner Hotel and Northcote Social Club, in the former Commercial Hotel, both feature entertainment including live music and the re-badged Sando is expected to have a similar focus.
Media reports say the venue will be a "free entry social club with friendly staff, great food, great drinks and all our favourite local, national and international tunes pumping through the place".
The Sando has been in receivership since June and the community has rallied around saving it, due to its significance for up-and-coming bands and the live music scene.
Newtown has witnessed a significant turnover of major venues in the past year, most recently seeing the Solotel Group purchase The Bank, The Riversdale Group purchase The Marly, and The Keystone Group re-open the Newtown Hotel.