Reported in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday, Justin Hemmes’ of the Merivale Group, the company that runs Ivy, Chinese Laundry and the Good Vibrations Festival has purchased the Excelsior Hotel in Surry hills for $4.5 Million. The Purchase continues his move into the Surry Hills region which he believes will be the next big party region as Kings Cross and inner city venues fill. Just 10 months ago he bought the Beresford Hotel for $14.6 Million.
The Excelsior Hotel has been an important venue on the Sydney music scene for years and picked up a lot of the Hopetoun Hotels shows when it was forced to close its door last year. All gigs currently booked will continue as planned, after that the future is unknown.
Merivale would not comment on their plans for the venue or when those plans will be revealed however rumour has it that the plans are to turn the pub into a wine bar.
This will be another blow to Sydney’s indie music scene as bands continue to be pushed out of the inner city.
Merivale are not known for their live music outside the club scene.
