Two 'loved, iconic' Melbourne pubs go into voluntary administration

Two popular venues in Melbourne have gone into voluntary administration as teams work to find a way to keep the "much-loved, iconic" venues afloat.

Tracey Lester, the owner of the companies behind the Carlton Club and the Windsor Castle Hotel, has hired Cor Cordis administrators Rachel Burdett and Shaun Matthews to restructure the financial affairs in light of current economic challenges.

"The past few years have been incredibly challenging as we navigate the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on both The Windsor Castle and The Carlton Hotel," she said.

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Operating under Furry Meatball Pty Ltd, The Carlton Club is a rooftop cocktail bar, restaurant and nightclub located at Bourke Street location in Melbourne's CBD.

The leafy Windsor Castle Hotel with three elephants on top operates under Floss Bottom Pty Ltd and sits on the corner of Albert and Upton Streets in Windsor.

Both locations have become prominent pubs but administrators are now urgently evaluating the business operations and exploring restructuring or recapitalisation options.

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Cor Cordis is conducting an expressions-of-interest campaign.

"We've commenced an urgent review of the financial position of The Carlton Club and The Windsor Castle Hotel", Burdett said.

The businesses will remain operating during this process.

"We are at the closing end of a restructuring process, and I remain committed to working closely with my advisors and legal team to achieve the best possible outcomes for my team, for these much-loved, iconic Melbourne venues, and a victory for the hospitality industry—proof that it continues to thrive in this vibrant city," Lester added.

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