Pub baron Jon Adgemis’ embattled Public Hospitality Group has taken another hit with receivers and external managers appointed at five of his Sydney hotels, including Oxford House and The Strand Hotel.

Insolvency specialist FTI Consulting has stepped in as receivers and managers to operate Public’s hip Redfern pub The Norfolk, Oxford House in Paddington and Darlinghurst’s The Strand Hotel, as well as Alexandria’s Camelia Grove Hotel and The Exchange Hotel, also in Darlinghurst. The pubs will be sold as soon as possible.

Duncan Club and Andrew Sallway of BDO advisory firm have also been appointed voluntary administrators at affiliated companies including Public Lifestyle Management Pty Ltd.

“We will be working closely with management of the venues to ensure they continue uninterrupted by this process while we seek new owners for the venues to secure their future,” says receiver Vaughan Strawbridge from FTI Consulting.

Strawbridge is confident the hotels will sell quickly: “We expect a lot of interest in these venues and will work closely with venue management to achieve a successful outcome.”

The venues vary significantly, with The Strand Hotel offering a designer rooftop with recently refurbished hotel rooms, while The Norfolk has cult food brand Ricos Tacos in residence and Oxford House includes hotel rooms plus natural-wine bar Busby’s.

The five properties represent a large slice of Adgemis’ sprawling Public portfolio, which has already lost one of the jewels in its crown, management of Sydney’s hatted Alpha restaurant in June. The group also underwent a high-profile split with the team behind award-winning cocktail bar Maybe Sammy in July.

In late July, Public seemed to have put its troubles in the rear-view mirror when it announced it had refinanced more than $400 million in debts.

The Australian Financial Review reported 12 Public venues, including Empire Hotel in Annandale and another Exchange Hotel, in Balmain, remain unaffected and have separate “loans in place with Deutsche Bank and Sydney-based Archibald Capital”.

Public’s other assets, including its Melbourne portfolio and Noah’s Backpackers in Bondi, also remain unaffected.

Drinks producer Michael Clifford is among a group of creditors anxiously awaiting news after receivers and external managers were installed.

“Between emails and phone calls, I must’ve contacted [Public] 25 to 30 times,” Clifford says of the monies he alleges are owed to his Maple Beverage Co – which produces Mode Seltzer – since early 2024 for product supplied to Oxford House.

Clifford is uncertain where the debt he claims he is owed for seltzer supplied to Oxford House stands. FTI Consulting directed The Herald to BDO, which said it is too early to put a figure on debts, but they will create a report following the creditors’ meeting on Monday, October 21.

“It’s only $1700, but it’s important for a business like ours. It pays [towards] warehousing, the next production run and our own debts,” Clifford says. “If it took me 250 days to pay people, I probably wouldn’t have a business.”

Public Hospitality has been approached for comment.