The iconic music institution put its business on the market this week.
One of Melbourne’s most iconic music institutions The Spotted Mallard put its business on the market this week, with the owners looking for a figure in the range of $200,000 for the leasehold.
Dubbed “the prettiest live music pub in Melbourne”, the venue has earned a reputation as being a true chameleon in the Melbourne cultural landscape, not only offering a unique bandroom that houses 300 people but also providing a fantastic space for punters to come together, have a beer and enjoy a pub grub meal. Its beloved balcony has become a home for memorable late nights and weekend drinking sessions.
Some of the notable artists the venue has welcomed in the past include Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke, Justin Townes Earle and Evan Dando, while it has also been a constant source for spotlighting the best local talent, playing a crucial part in catapulting the careers of Melbourne’s queen of soul, Kylie Auldist, Tex Perkins, Ron S Peno & The Superstitions and so many more.
Speaking to CRE Brokers’ Lloyd Nunn, who represents the venue, there is no relation between the listing and the current crisis.
“It has nothing to do with COVID-19,” Nunn told Beat Magazine. “The good venues that are out there, they’re closing on the Sunday and opening on the Monday, there just happens to be six months in between.
“In this case, the landlord has been absolutely amazing – an anomaly – he’s waived all of the rent until June and then we’ll have another chat about it whereas a lot of landlords out there are demanding the deferred rent which means there’s no chance of the businesses opening up after the restrictions are lifted.”
How a landlord treats its tenants is a whole other story, according to Nunn, who says there’s been some division in the industry.
“My personal view is that 60% of venues will not reopen because the landlords, it’s in their interest to keep the tenants out,” Nunn continues. “Live music venues have a product that will always be there – people will always want to go out and see live music full stop.
“So the idea is when the restrictions are lifted, then we’ll just start again and it’s up to the landlords not to crush them [the tenants] into the ground so that when they do open they can just carry on trading.”
The listing comes after The Gaso puts its business up for sale, while the building with which Revolver resides has also been put on the market.
Beat Magazine has reached out to The Spotted Mallard for comment.
Check out the listing of the venue here.
Read our piece on why the government needs to do more to help live music venues here.
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