Music To Remain At Macquarie Hotel Despite 'For Sale' Listing

The pending sale of Sydney's Macquarie Hotel is not expected to hinder its live music, even with the multi-purpose venue now accepting expressions of interest until 1 November.

A long-established music venue, it is a popular place for jazz, blues, soul and world music residencies, this month hosting Steve Clisby, Alphamama and Sambossa amongst others.

In March 2011 the venue was rebranded the Schwartz Brewery Hotel to promote the active in-house brewery but the new name also signalled the end for regular live music events at the venue's Ravál second floor room. The venue told theMusic.com.au at the time that the room had become “unsustainable”.

Now the venue has udnergone another name change, with the Sydney Brewhouse to be launched on Thursday and usher in an even greater focus on craft beers.                             

As well as its live music and brewery operations, the Sydney Brewhouse – which is being advertised on the property market as The Macquarie – also boats 27 ensuited rooms, a kitchen, 25 active poker machines and a 24-hour license.

Estate agent Adam Spencer-Carr, from Spencer-Carr Property, who are also the agents for The Basement, said that it was unlikely that the venue, which is believed to have been in operation as a hotel since 1888, will be developed by a buyer.

“I'm never going to say there's no development opportunity for a building so close to the CBD," he said, "but it would be down the track... The building's quite heavily heritage protected.”

He added that considering the venue is “fully operating”, with licenses and approvals intact, “Most of the enquiries have come from existing business operators, whether that be with music, beer [or other].”

Current music booker Nathan Farrell told theMusic.com.au today that music was still a part of the venue's marketing strategy moving forward.

“If the hotel does sell I'm confident the eight years of musical heritage the place now has will be intact,” he said, “it's an important and successful part of the hotel's business.”