Maylands Hotel to get upgrade with new owners

by Leon Gettler

The historic Maylands Hotel which has been operating in Adelaide’s east since the early 1880s is set to be restored to its former glory.

Its new owners, the Matthews Hotel Group, plans to give it a big upgrade.

The group purchased the hotel from receivers Ferrier Hodgson in February for an undisclosed sum.

The Phillis St hotel was transferred into the control of Ferrier Hodgson in October last year.

At the time, Ferrier Hodgson made it clear it intended to put the pub, which had built a soundproofed room to cocoon 40 gaming machines built on the southern side of its beer garden, on the market.

Neither Ferrier Hodgson nor the owner of the business Ray Aoukar would disclose the reasons for it going into receivership.

Matthews Hotel Group co-owner Scott Matthews, whose family owns The Feathers Hotel in Burnside, said the plan was to make the Maylands Hotel a key part of the community again.

“As a family we decided to purchase The Maylands Hotel as we believed it was a fantastic opportunity to grow such a beautiful and iconic landmark, and restore the hotel to its former glory,” Mr Matthews told the Daily Telegraph.

“Many of the locals and regulars have let us know how excited they are that we have taken ownership of The Maylands Hotel and they are looking forward to seeing how we plan to make this hotel great again.”

Mr Matthews said there were plans for a “cosmetic face lift”. It would be repainted, get new furniture and the pokies room would be upgraded. The front bar would remain open.

“A new food and wine menu has already been implemented, which we know will appease both pub food lovers plus those looking for that something more,” Mr Matthews said.

“A hotel such as The Maylands is the heart of the community.

“It is somewhere you can meet friends for dinner or a drink, take the kids to … or hold a special function or event in our huge function rooms.”

4^th April 2016