The hospitality scene in Sydney has been dealt a blow with the announcement Mary’s Group will not renew its lease at the Lansdowne Hotel in Sydney’s Chippendale.
The group, led by Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham, took to Instagram to announce the news, confirming the landlord had made the decision to convert the live music space into accommodation.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our time with the beloved Lansdowne Hotel is coming to an end,” reads the post.
“Our lease is due to expire in the coming months, and the Landlords have chosen to close the Gig Room to build more hostel accommodation.
“This was not a part of our vision for the Lansdowne, and as such, we have decided to call time on our custodianship of this iconic live music venue.”
Mary’s took over the pub in mid-2017 and brought their signature burgers with them, operating rooftop bar Mary’s On Top and a ground-level bistro along with running live music events.
The group will continue operating at the Lansdowne until the end of April 2022 and have pledged to support the live music scene.
“Despite this tough announcement today, we promise to continue to build stages and create spaces for the voices of our glorious city to emerge.”
The Mary’s portfolio currently consists of the original Newtown location along with Mary’s Underground in Circular Quay, The Unicorn in Paddington, Mary’s CBD and Mary’s Melbourne, which is temporarily closed.
