Fairfax family offloads Kingsford Pub in $42m deal
The Fairfax family's hospitality arm has completed the first sale from its storied Sydney pub portfolio, selling the Regent Hotel in Kingsford to family-run operator Thomas Hotels for approximately $42 million.
Amalgamated Hotels — the vehicle through which the Fairfax family has held its NSW pub interests — acquired the eastern suburbs venue back in 1999. The property was brought to market in February this year alongside surrounding development land, which remains available for purchase after 27 years of accumulation.
The buyer, Thomas Hotels, is a family-owned NSW hospitality group with existing pub operations including the Tollgate Hotel in North Parramatta and The George Tavern in East Maitland.
The transaction was brokered jointly by JLL's Ben McDonald and John Musca alongside the Colliers agency. McDonald said the result underscored the enduring depth of buyer demand across the sector.
"We saw strong competition from a broad pool of domestic and offshore buyers, reflecting confidence in well-located hotels that combine immediate income with long-term growth fundamentals," he said. "This result highlights the continued strength and resilience of the NSW pub market."
The Regent Hotel brings considerable operational credentials to its new owners. The venue holds Friday and Saturday 4am trading approval, operates 30 gaming machines, and generates approximately $145,000 in weekly revenue. Settlement is anticipated in July.
A market firing on all cylinders
The Kingsford deal is the latest in a run of high-value pub transactions across Sydney in 2026. Earlier this month, the Bexley North Hotel changed hands for around $70 million, acquired by the Feros family's JDA Collective. The Oaks in Neutral Bay, which is the third-largest pub sale on record, was separately acquired by Gallagher Hotels for $132.5 million, while the Kings Head Tavern in South Hurstville was sold to Parras Hospitality for approximately $40 million.
More Amalgamated assets still to come
The Regent Hotel sale is only the beginning of what is shaping up to be a significant unwinding of the Amalgamated Hotels portfolio. Three further venues remain listed: The Clock in Surry Hills, the Sackville Hotel in Rozelle, and The Bank in Newtown. Together, the trio generates combined annual revenue of around $40 million, with year-on-year growth running at approximately 11 per cent. No price guidance has been released for the remaining assets.
Once those three hotels transact, Amalgamated Hotels will retain just one property — the Marlborough Hotel in Newtown.
Among those overseeing the wind-down is Lee Thomas, who served as personal secretary to the late Mary Fairfax for more than three decades, alongside hospitality industry veteran Bruce Solomon of Solotel, both directors of the company.
Jonathan Jackson, 25th May 2026
