Brisbane hospitality king mulls IPO
Brisbane’s hospitality king Godfrey Mantle is in discussions with advisers on floating his extensive restaurants and pubs portfolio.
Mr Mantle owns Jimmy’s, Milano, Cafe East and the Pig ‘n’ Whistle pubs, which dominate Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall – the second busiest mall in Australia by traffic behind Sydney’s Pitt Street.
Local group Morgans has been in discussions with Mr Mantle on the flotation plans but was unavailable for comment.
Mr Mantle also declined to comment on his discussions about a float, but his assets are some of the best performing in Queensland. He has a stronghold over many of the restaurants and pubs in the city centre.
The Pig N Whistle in the Brisbane CBD is a key operation of the Mantle Group. Photo: Harrison Saragossi
Mr Mantle’s plans come as Melbourne-based Dixon Hospitality Group, Australia’s largest non-gaming pub group, pursues a $300 million ASX listing after adding to its expanding portfolio with the acquisition of gastro pub O’Connell’s, in South Melbourne.
Dixon Hospitality is to be led by Michael Dixon, the son of former ASX-listed Spotless chief executive Bruce Dixon. It has also been circling Brisbane entrepreneur Damian Griffiths’ hospitality empire. Mr Mantle has also been looking to consolidate parts of his business.
He appointed PwC last year to sell off a large portion of his property holdings in the southern Gold Coast and Tweed area. The land at Marana Street and Cobaki Road, Bilambil Heights, could fetch as much as $60 million.
Godfrey Mantle, Mantle Group. Photo: Supplied
