Perth’s Brisbane Hotel in new hands after previous owner in voluntary administration

Perth inner city live music venue The Brisbane Hotel has in new hands after the previous owner went into voluntary administration.

Family-run hospitality and tourism operator The Prendiville Group has taken over.

Its venues include the Cottesloe Beach Hotel, Hotel Rottnest, Tradewinds and the Norfolk in Fremantle as well as Sandalford Wines in the Swan Valley.

The Brisbane’s former owner Geoff Hayward's company Capital Management WA Pty Ltd entered voluntary administration in late June.

Hayward ran some of Perth’s best-known venues, such as Bar One and Luxe Bar as well as The Boulevard in Floreat (formerly another live music venue, The Florea which he jettisoned the Boulevard last year.)

Hayward bought The Brisbane with several investors 15 years ago and spent millions of dollars into transforming the once-tired pub, on the corner of Brisbane and Beaufort Streets, into a dynamic nightlife destination.

Among creditors of Capital Management were Australian Taxation Office, for over $556,000, and $207,400 to Devana Corporation, which is owned by Hayward, according to administrator Simon Coad at a creditor’s meeting last month.

Hayward earlier attributed high rents and a soft market for entertainment venues for trading losses in the past two years.

A spokesperson for The Prendiville Group, Tony Dichiera,  issued a statement confirming "The Brisbane Hotel is now owned and operated by Brisbane Hotel Holdings Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of The Prendiville Group.

"The previous licensee is no longer involved with the property in any capacity and therefore their company going into voluntary administration has no effect on the current ownership and operations of The Brisbane Hotel.

"This is a private matter for the previous licensee and any questions should be directed to them.

"It is business as usual... this has no impact on any confirmed reservations or function bookings."