Brisbane is booming. The city’s nightlife is home to iconic venues, classic pubs, awesome bars and sophisticated cocktails as well as amazing live music venues.
Opportunities to be part of this amazing scene, particularly at established and strong-performing venues is rare, especially those inside Australia’s first designated entertainment precinct in Fortitude Valley.
But thanks to a new strategic business direction from Mantle Group Hospitality (MGH), that opportunity is here now.
MGH has said it is moving in a new direction this year and as such will be concentrating on its core business and offering significant new developments in Brisbane City, Sydney and Gold Coast.
MGH CEO Arj Rupesinghe said: “There is an appetite in Brisbane for new world-class venues, and we can’t wait to continue adding to the ever-growing entertainment and hospitality scene.”
The Group is planning to open or begin construction soon on several new venues including The Lucky Squire at the Gold Coast, The Summit at Mt Coot-tha, and 145 Eagle Street.
As a result of this, the group has engaged CBRE to sell the leaseholds of its two popular Pig ‘N’ Whistle pubs in South East Queensland.
Paul Fraser and Chloe Mason from CBRE Hotels have been exclusively appointed for the Expressions of Interest campaign, on the leasehold interests of the Pig ‘N’ Whistles in Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley and Indooroopilly.
Rupesinghe said that while both Indooroopilly and Brunswick Street Pig ‘N’ Whistles were assets to MGH, the focus for the business is on its upcoming rollouts of the larger scale venues.
As a result, these two exciting opportunities are now available; so what can you expect from these venues?
Located in Brisbane’s premier entertainment precinct the Pig ‘N’ Whistle Brunswick Street features an extensive fit out spread over two buildings and two levels. The venue boasts two outdoor beer gardens, four separate bars, high ceilings and exposed brick interiors, encapsulating the building’s heritage.
Seven kilometres west of the CBD sits Pig ‘N’ Whistle Indooroopilly, occupying a large footprint and several areas including a main bar, large bistro area, expansive outdoor dining, multiple function spaces and Phuc Deli-Viet – the venue’s high performing Vietnamese restaurant, which also forms part of the leasehold sale.
The interests will be available individually or in one line, with the Pig ‘N’ Whistle branding to remain with the vendor, which as CBRE’s Mason explains brings a huge opportunity to the purchaser.
“Given the Pig ‘N’ Whistle brand does not form part of the sale, the incoming purchaser has a real opportunity to reposition the pub immediately and tap into the local community in the surrounding Valley precinct.”
She added: “While the Brunswick Street and Indooroopilly assets both carry the Pig ‘N’ Whistle brand, we believe they will attract very different purchasers, given they have vastly different attributes and price points.”
Speaking about the Fortitude Valley property, Mason said: “With the 146-room Hotel Indigo opposite the pub and due for completion in July, Pig ‘N’ Whistle Brunswick Street is primed to capitalise on an associated boost in foot traffic.”
CBRE’s Fraser is just as excited about the opportunity available in Indooroopilly, with the venue having the opportunity to expand into gaming with a current approval for the site to hold 45 gaming authorities. Given the location of the asset in a high performing shopping centre this approval will add significant potential upside for an incoming purchaser.
“This coupled with the strong upward trending performance of all the venue’s revenue streams is expected to drive a competitive national sale campaign,” Fraser said.
“Since opening 20 years ago, the venue has built an enviable profile in the city’s western suburbs.”
“We believe the Indooroopilly and Brunswick Street assets will generate significant national buyer interest as astute operators look to secure a foothold into the tightly held South East Queensland market.”
The national Expressions of Interest campaign closes March 26, 2020. Any interested parties should contact Paul Fraser and/or Chloe Mason on +61 466 610 729.