Iconic Sydney pub sells after years sitting empty
One of Sydney’s most iconic late-night dive bars has sold after spending three years closed and vacant.
The sale of the Oxford Tavern in Petersham, which has sat empty after the previous tenants decided against extending the lease in 2023, marks a well-overdue new chapter for the Inner West pub.
Experienced hoteliers Liam and Mathew Sweeney have snapped up the property alongside Angel Kennard, of the Kennards Self Storage family, with plans to restore it to its former glory.
The sale price has not yet been disclosed, though selling agents HTL Property confirmed the hotel had attracted plenty of interest from pub operators, restaurateurs, developers and investors throughout the campaign.
The new owners are already working on plans for a refurbishment, with hopes of restoring the pub’s character and reopening it as a local go-to.
Sweeney Pub Group director Liam Sweeney said the deal was an exciting step for the business, following the group’s investments in the Eveleigh Hotel in Redfern and the Narooma Hotel on the NSW South Coast, both sold for more than three times their original acquisition prices.
“The Oxford has enormous potential, and we’re looking forward to bringing it back to life as a great local pub the community can be proud of,” he said.
Kennard, who previously worked as general manager of the group’s Salisbury Hotel in Stanmore and Narooma Hotel, has joined the business as an equity partner.
The Oxford Tavern, affectionately known as The Tav, was a popular late-night dive bar.
When the business was acquired by the Drink ‘n’ Dine Group in 2012, it became known for its American-style barbecue, pickleback shots and beer garden.
The business was then acquired by Melbourne-based Dixon Hospitality Group in 2016, which on-sold the leasehold to the Odd Culture Group in 2019.
The bar group took over the venue and reopened it in 2020 after a refurbishment.
The Odd Culture, which also operates The Duke of Enmore and The Old Fitzroy Hotel, announced its departure in 2023 after choosing not to renew the lease.
“We’re proud of everything we’ve put into The Tav,” the group said at the time. “It’s been a wild ride, but the time has come to end this chapter.”
Since the hospitality company left, The Tav has remained closed, with its famous beer garden tables and chairs stacked and left to gather dust.
The hotel holds a 3am liquor licence and sits on an expansive 734-square-metre landholding.
HTL Property director Blake Edwards said the opportunity to reopen the hotel was a major selling point, alongside the value of the land and its development potential.
“We’re delighted that Sweeney Pub Group has recognised this opportunity and look forward to seeing their vision come to life,” he said.
The property was sold by HTL Property’s Sam Handy and Blake Edwards on behalf of receivers and managers Cameron Gray and Adam Shephard of HM Advisory.
The sale comes amid a string of Sydney pub transactions, with The Clock Hotel in Surry Hills and The Bank Hotel in Newtown changing hands in a deal worth more than $90 million earlier this year.
