Exclusive: Celebrity Chef Denies Buying The Hopetoun Hotel

Celebrity chef Kylie Kwong has today denied buying Sydney's Hopetoun Hotel, squashing growing rumours that the famous former live music venue had changed hands.

Speaking to theMusic.com.au Kwong's personal assistant said that chef "has not and has no intention of ever buying the Hopetoun Hotel."

Since closing abruptly in 2009, the Surry Hills venue, which previously hosted live music every night of the week, has laid dormant. In a good location but in average condition, it is likely that any potential buyer would have to do major renovations to the venue.

Today Kwong "jokingly" offered, "I ever go into any 'hotel'  business, it would only ever be with [my] fave one; The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong!"

Calls to the venue's previous stakeholders today have either gone unreturned or the numbers have been disconnected.