Sydney pub mogul Jon Adgemis has seen one of his former venues, the Empire Hotel in Annandale, get a new lease on life. The venue will now house Double Happy Chinese Restaurant with a menu crafted by celebrity chef George Calombaris.
Adgemis, who is no longer involved in the operation, had previously been in the business of renovating old pubs through his company, Public Hospitality Group, before facing significant financial difficulties. Linchpin Hospitality, a separate company, has taken over some of his old venues, including the Empire Hotel.
As Linchpin’s culinary director, Calombaris developed a menu that features Chinese-Australian staples like beef and black bean, sweet and sour pork, and honey and lemon chicken.
In addition to Double Happy, the Empire Hotel will also feature Dale’s Pizza, offering wood-fired pizzas.
Adgemis, who has lost control of many of his hospitality ventures, now only holds a landlord-tenant relationship with Linchpin. The group also operates other former Adgemis venues, including Hotel Diplomat in Potts Point and Balmain’s Exchange Hotel, with plans to reopen them in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Solotel Group has taken charge of three other pubs once run by Adgemis’ company, including the Norfolk in Redfern and the Camelia Grove Hotel in Alexandria.
Source: Daily Telegraph.
