The Bendigo Hotel To Close, Forced To Stop Trading & Sell The Business
The Bendigo Hotel owners announced the venue’s shock news on social media, citing financial stresses on the owners and the business itself.
The Bendigo Hotel (Source: Supplied)
The Bendigo Hotel—aka The Bendi—will close in two weeks. Its owners have been forced to stop trading and sell the business to settle debts.
The Bendigo Hotel is a beloved pub and music venue in the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood. It’s known for hosting metal, punk, and hardcore shows, as well as putting on shows by Aussie and international acts, including The Bennies, The Omnific, Angel Du$t, The Kill, and many more.
It’s also set to host mega gigs like Metal To My Ears in April, Aussie acts Vilify on their first-ever headline tour in May, the two-day mini-festival Ungrateful Deadfest Brutality 2024 in July, and more. As the current owners stated, though, they’re working with bands and other venues to move the gigs to different spaces.
The Bendi is an important music venue in the heart of Melbourne. It has a twin-bandroom setup and hosts 350 punters—an intimate space and an essential place for up-and-coming acts to cut their teeth.
In 2020, owner Guy Palermo shared a petition and campaigned for the state government to support live music venues as the city was forced into COVID-19 lockdowns.
He wrote in the petition, “Melbourne thrives from our live music. It is the beating pulse that binds us together and pumps money into our local economy.” The petition received over 29,000 signatures.
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The Bendi owners announced the venue’s shock news on social media yesterday (13 March), citing financial stresses on the owners and the business itself.
“Dear valued Bendi patrons, bands, performers, punters, and live music lovers, we are grateful for your unwavering love and support of The Bendi over the past 14 incredible years,” the owners wrote in an Instagram statement.
The statement continued, with owners sharing “tough news” with “heavy hearts”, writing: “Despite our team's tireless dedication and unwavering perseverance we've come to a point where we've explored every avenue to keep the Bendi going. The financial burden on our business and personal front has been immense, leaving us with no choice but to stop trading. Sadly, we are forced to sell our business to settle our debts.”
The owners understand that the news likely shocks many and may bring disruption, but they sincerely apologise and acknowledge that making the decision to close was “incredibly hard, but after exhausting all options, we found ourselves at the end of the road.
“We know the Bendigo Hotel holds a special place in your hearts; it embodies a vibrant community spirit.”
Venue owners promise to keep The Bendi rocking until the end of March, promising an unforgettable final two weeks under current ownership. The Bendi encourages artists who would like to play one last gig to get in touch by contacting gigs@bendigohotel.com.au.
The statement continued, “We guarantee that all scheduled shows before March 31st will be honoured, and we are actively working with bands and other venues to ensure future events proceed as planned elsewhere.”
“We offer our deepest gratitude to all the musicians who graced our stage and our loyal patrons for sharing this incredible journey with us. Feel free to reach out if anyone is interested in owning a metal/ live music venue \m/
“See you at the bar!
“The Bendi Crew”.
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