One of the pioneers of Australia’s craft beer scene has hung up his boots after 40 years at one of the nation’s oldest independent craft breweries.
The Lord Nelson Hotel is Sydney’s oldest continually licensed hotel, and believed to be the oldest pub brewery in the country. The hotel is prominently located on the corner of Kent and Argyle Streets, between Circular Quay and the Barangaroo precinct.
The property’s basement cellar houses Australia’s first fully operational pub brewery, while the rest of the building comprises a ground floor public bar with original features, a first-floor fine dining restaurant, and two floors featuring nine boutique accommodation rooms.
Blair Hayden, who purchased the hotel with his business partners in 1986, oversaw the meticulous restoration of the sandstone building to its former glory and has operated it ever since. The construction of the fully functional microbrewery helped pioneer the independent craft beer movement in Australia and is now the oldest independent craft brewery in the country. Hayden and his partners have now sold the pub and brewery to the Laundy family, renowned pub operators.
“We have a deep affection for this pub; however, after almost 40 years, we recognise that the brand will benefit from improved resources to propel the business to new heights. We have full confidence that the Laundy family will be excellent custodians of ‘The Lord’,” stated Hayden.
Lord Nelson Beer part of the deal
As part of the deal, the Laundy family has also acquired the famed Lord Nelson Beer brand, which is best known for its immensely popular and award-winning ‘Three Sheets’ Pale Ale, which accounts for approximately 90 per cent of craft beer sales under the Lord Nelson banner.
Brewed since 1986, Three Sheets is one of the pioneering pale ales in the Australian craft beer industry and is currently available on tap and in the fridges of over 125 Sydney pubs, restaurants, and hotels. The beer is also distributed in bottles and cans through independent retailers across Australia.
Sales agent Kate MacDonald, who negotiated the sale stated that Laundy Group had the capabilities to take Lord Nelson Beer to the next level: “The Laundy Group is not only well-positioned to operate the pub, but their ability to expand the esteemed beer brand is evident through their large-scale brewery in Marsden Park.”
The longevity of Lord Nelson Beer
The microbrewery was quite controversial when it was founded in 1986, as it was something that was unheard of in Australia at the time. In 2016, at the time of the hotel’s 175th anniversary, Hayden reflected on the beginnings of the brewery in 1986.
“Many stalwarts of the big two found it too much to comprehend, but a large following of what we were doing soon arose and the customers revelled in the excitement of malt-driven natural ales all different in appearance, flavour and with interesting hop aromas and varying bitterness levels. Their taste buds were awoken, and became suitably excited,”
As for the hotel itself, Hayden says a lot of hard work and passion are behind the hotel’s continued popularity on the hotel scene.
“My belief in The Lord’s longevity is the perception that it never changes. It is a tricky thing to maintain standards and remain constant in the way a very old and significantly historical building and décor can remain the same.
“It takes a lot of work and indeed money to keep up appearances and retain the constant belief in good service, good food, good wines and indeed outstanding natural ales in the British tradition of ale brewing.”
As for highlights, Hayden says that in his decades-long career at The Lord Nelson Hotel there have been many, but one stands out in particular. “There have been many standout moments, however the pleasure in pioneering this wonderful industry to the state of choice, experimentation and excitement of the craft industry is the tops.”