Sydney’s oldest licensed pub on the market – big brewery interest expected

The Lord Nelson Hotel and Brewery at The Rocks was purchased in 1986 for $750,500 by former commodities trader Blair Hayden and his business partners Robert-Hill Smith and Michael Gilbert, when they bought it from Maritime Services Board of NSW. 

“We truly love this pub. However, after 35 years, we simply don’t have the energy or the resources to take the business to the next level – but we have no doubt that someone will,” Mr Hayden said.

The three-storey hotel, operating business and its craft beer brand are expected to fetch over $35 million and is located between the Circular Quay transport hub and the Barangaroo entertainment and business precinct.

The Lord will be taken to market JLL’s Kate MacDonald and colleague John Musca.

MacDonald expects interest from big breweries and major pub groups.

“The current private owners have done a terrific job to create and nurture the beer and brand from infancy, but the potential scale of this product for an outfit with superior resource capabilities is quite extraordinary,” she said.

MacDonald also said it was Sydney CBD’s first major pub freehold offering in approximately two years.

Irit Jackson, 4^th November 2021