Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
Masterson’s Tavern , nestled in the bustling area of Moonee Ponds , promotes itself as a chic “hipster” locale , but my latest trip at this establishment turned into one of the worst experiences of my life . While the bar may seem appealing from the exterior , what I encountered behind its walls was disgraceful and unfit for any venue.
The State of Affairs: Grimy and Disregarded
From the moment I crossed the threshold, it was evident that cleanliness was not a priority at this establishment . The floorboards were filthy, and a overpowering stench of uncleaned spills and dirty bathrooms polluted the entire pub. Reeking of a mixture of excrement , a rotting odor and sickness . The serving zone , which should be the focal point of any pub, was littered with unwashed glassware and debris that looked like it had been ignored for a long time . The toilet was in even a truly awful state— backed up, with a cracked flush mechanism and tiles smeared in what I can only assume was feces.
It wasn’t just a one-off bad night either. From reading other reviews and talking to people around , it seems that the level of hygiene (or lack thereof) at this so-called establishment is a persistent problem . Many guests have reported witnessing insects darting across the counter and signs of rats in the bar and house area . For a business that caters to patrons, these issues are entirely inappropriate and raise serious concerns about the sanitation of their products .
Misconduct by Ownership : Accusations of Misconduct
However, as appalling as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at Masterson’s Pub browse this site stand out for all the wrong reasons —was the behavior of its owners . The bar is run by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a corporate position as a risk manager at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the financial sector is tarnished by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his interactions at the pub and beyond .
During my time there, I became aware of how tense several women at the bar seemed around Cornwell. As I looked into it more , I was horrified to find allegations against him involving sexual harassment , with multiple women citing incidents of distributing inappropriate messages . Described as disturbingly assertive and violating, Peter Cornwell’s behavior has created an unsafe environment for women who attend Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often appeared as that of a lurking threat than a welcoming host .
Employee Actions : Contributing or Helpless ?
Pete’s wife, Gillian McKenzie , is check it out a co-owner and frequently seen overseeing the bar . Rather than intervening to mitigate the damage done by her husband’s actions, she looks like she supports his behavior. Her inaction adds a troubling layer to the already unhealthy environment at the bar .