Laundy Hotels has acquired The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel in The Rocks, Sydney, off longtime proprietor Blair Hayden.
The Lord Nelson Hotel is Sydney’s oldest continually licensed hotel, and believed to be the oldest pub brewery in the country. The hotel is prominently located on the corner of Kent and Argyle Streets, between Circular Quay and the Barangaroo precinct.
The property boasts a basement cellar housing Australia’s first fully operational pub brewery, a ground floor public bar with original features, a first-floor fine dining restaurant, and two floors featuring nine boutique accommodation rooms.
Blair Hayden, who purchased the hotel with his business partners in 1986, oversaw the meticulous restoration of the sandstone building to its former glory and has operated it ever since. The construction of the fully functional microbrewery helped pioneer the independent craft beer movement in Australia and is now the oldest independent craft brewery in the country.
“We have a deep affection for this pub; however, after almost 40 years, we recognise that the brand will benefit from improved resources to propel the business to new heights. We have full confidence that the Laundy family will be excellent custodians of ‘The Lord’,” stated Hayden.
In 2016 the Lord Nelson Hotel celebrated its 175th anniversary, with Hayden speaking to Australian Hotelier at the time about its longevity.
“My belief in The Lord’s longevity is the perception that it never changes. It is a tricky thing to maintain standards and remain constant in the way a very old and significantly historical building and décor can remain the same.
“It takes a lot of work and indeed money to keep up appearances and retain the constant belief in good service, good food, good wines and indeed outstanding natural ales in the British tradition of ale brewing.”
Arthur Laundy told The Weekend Australian that he had bought the pub because he liked it.
“I like it, it’s nice, I love the building. It’s a beautiful old building, it’s got history, we will get it going there’s nothing surer. It’s going well already.”
Lord Nelson Beer part of the deal
As part of the transaction, the Laundy family has also acquired the famed Lord Nelson Beer brand, which is best known for its immensely popular and award-winning ‘Three Sheets’ Pale Ale, which accounts for approximately 90 per cent of craft beer sales under the Lord Nelson banner.
Brewed since 1986, Three Sheets is one of the pioneering pale ales in the Australian craft beer industry and is currently available on tap and in the fridges of over 125 Sydney pubs, restaurants, and hotels. The beer is also distributed in bottles and cans through independent retailers across Australia.
The sale campaign for the hotel and brand was guided by JLL’s senior vice president Kate McDonald.
“It was an honour to bring such an iconic asset and brand to the market and ensure that the Lord Nelson legacy persists in Sydney and throughout Australia. Blair and his team have created one of the finest establishments in our city, and having successfully operated for nearly four decades is an extraordinary achievement,” stated MacDonald.
“The Laundy Group is not only well-positioned to operate the pub, but their ability to expand the esteemed beer brand is evident through their large-scale brewery in Marsden Park.”
Laundy Hotels will take over operations of The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel in eight weeks.
