The Palace Hotel South Melbourne acquired by Local Patron
Everyone agrees that the Palace Hotel in South Melbourne is an awesome community pub.
After a decade of growth and service, not to mention surviving Covid, current owners Jessica McGrath and Mark Pratt are passing the baton to Port Melbourne local Chris Ryan.
Chris is passionate about the core value of the pub, as well as the opportunity to continue where Jess and Mark left off. Settlement of the deal is expected in September 2023 pending landlord and regulatory approvals.
In a joint statement Jess and Mark said:
“This comes with very mixed emotions, but mainly excitement. It’s been a wild ride – babies have been born, loved ones have been lost, relationships have been forged and forever friends have been made.
It’s one of those great friends that has purchased the Palace and we couldn’t be happier. Chris Ryan is not only a friend and a loyal customer, but he is also a local family man that brings a wealth of experience and we look forward to seeing Chris take our beloved Palace to the next level.
We want to say a MASSIVE thank you to all of you who have walked through our doors. You have left your mark in our hearts, and we are forever grateful for your patronage and support. Special mention to Barry Reade, our venue manager and Ram Gopali, our head chef for everything they are, and have achieved. And a shout out to everyone who has worked here, whether it was one shift or 5 years, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping shape what the Palace is today.
We’d also like to acknowledge our beloved staffy Billy RIP. Billy helped change the landscape for dogs in outdoor dining, he put us on the map and remains an important part of the brand – thanks Billy!
Chris Ryan told locals that “the Palace is already a great pub. Hats off to Jess, Mark, Barry and Rambo, and everyone that has contributed to building such a special place.
That said, opportunities abound – our mantra going forward is the “same but more” – same DNA but more investment in the team, in the business and the systems; more focus on the detail, more offerings; more giving to the community; more functions; more sport; more leadership; more communication – the list goes on…. can’t wait to get into it!”
About The Palace Hotel
The Palace hotel was established in 1874, but the current business was born in 2013 when Jess and Mark arrived. The vibe of the pub is awesome – a country pub in Melbourne, where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came – that has a wide range of beers and ales, sports and entertainment, games, a beer garden, bistro, events spaces, as well as long wooden tables on the grassed area out front where the atmosphere is buzzing, especially on a summer’s eve.
Contact For More Information
Jessica Mcgrath or Chris Ryan on (03) 9682 3177 during pub opening hours.