Shortcorp acquires Leichhardt pub

Sydney pub operator Shortcorp is poised for an overhaul of its new acquisition, Leichhardt's The Royal, with all its venues to begin operating under a new management arm of the business.

The veteran hotel family took ownership of The Royal on 1 July from outgoing owner Peter Howard for an undisclosed sum, and will relaunch the historic 1886 hotel in late August. 

The renovated venue will include a strong selection of craft beers and new upstairs dining area, with the menu offering "traditional, comforting pub fare".

The Royal's bottle shop will also get a makeover, introducing a wider selection of craft and international beers and boutique wines, and squarely taking on the two BWS' on Norton street, adopting trading hours until midnight seven days a week.

Owned by siblings Martin Short and Paris Ballantyne, with mother Ros Short, Shortcorp's other assets include The Australian Heritage Hotel and The Glenmore in The Rocks, Scubar in the CBD and The Seabreeze Hotel in South West Rocks, as well as other interests outside hospitality. 

The new business, W.Short Hotel Group, is named after Warwick Short [deceased], who operated pubs including The Stoned Crow and Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel with wife Ros.  

"It's a very exciting time for the business at the moment with the purchase of The Royal and the announcement of a dedicated arm focussing solely on our ownership and management of pub and hotel properties," said Shortcorp CEO Martin Short.

Source: The Shout, 26 July 2013