The Empire Hotel in Cobar has been sold to seasoned hoteliers, with its high-performing drive-thru bottle shop emerging as the key attraction in a competitive on-market sale campaign managed by JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group.
Sold on behalf of appointed liquidator Andrew Barnden of Rodgers Reidy, the Empire Hotel was acquired by The New England Pub Company, led by experienced operators Ben Ryan and Mark Neilson. The buyers cited the exclusive bottle shop offering as the primary drawcard for the acquisition.
Positioned on a large 3,127sqm site in the heart of outback NSW, the Empire Hotel benefits from the only drive-thru bottle shop in Cobar – a point of clear differentiation that drove substantial market interest. The venue also features a labour-efficient single-bar layout and holds a rare 2am late trading licence, contributing to a strong overall revenue mix across food, beverage, and take-away liquor.
The deal was handled by JLL specialist hotel brokers Greg Jeloudev and Edward Browne.
Jeloudev said: “Regional hotels positioned in strong locations continue to attract investor attention. Throughout this campaign, substantial interest was garnered from new market entrants and experienced operators. We sincerely wish Ben and Mark all the best with their new acquisition and thank Andrew Barnden of Rodgers Reidy for entrusting us with this mandate.”
Cobar’s position as a strategic transport and mining hub – underpinned by a $1.2 billion economy and a local population of more than 4,000 – further enhanced the commercial appeal of the hotel’s retail liquor trade.
The sale adds to a string of successful regional transactions for JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, including the Bermagui Beach Hotel and Byron Bay’s iconic Beach Hotel.
JLL acknowledged the support of Rodgers Reidy in the sale and congratulated the new owners on their latest commercial venture.