Sydney venues Bar Julius and Lottie to close as Apollo Group takes over
Redfern venues Bar Julius and Lottie will close their doors at the end of August, less than two years after launching, with prominent Sydney hospitality group The Apollo Group confirmed to take over both spaces.
The European-inspired bar and Mexican rooftop restaurant are both housed within The Eve Hotel Sydney and currently owned and operated by Liquid and Larder.
The Apollo Group will add the venues to its growing portfolio of luxury bar-restaurants in the area, which already includes neighbouring Olympus Dining, along with The Apollo and Cho Cho San.
Bar Julius broke the news via Instagram on Tuesday, telling followers: “Bar Julius will be closing its doors at the end of August. We’d love to see you before last drinks.”
The announcement caught many regulars off guard, with locals questioning in the comments why the venue was closing barely a year after opening in early 2025.
Bar Julius and Lottie owner James Bradey told the Sydney Morning Herald the venues had fallen short of financial expectations. “I’m really proud of what we’re doing, but we haven’t hit the heights financially (that) we’d like,” he said.
Bradey also pointed to the Bar Julius name as a factor in its struggles, noting it gave the impression the venue only traded at night. “We were originally going to call it Baptist, but another venue in the development opened before us,” he said. “It’s certainly more successful at night … maybe we should have called it Bistro Julius or just Julius.”
In reality, Bar Julius operates as an all-day venue, serving breakfast to guests staying at The Eve Hotel.
The Apollo Group's expansion into the two sites marks the latest development in the $500 million Redfern Wunderlich Lane precinct, which also features a grocer, boutique hotel and a string of dining venues.
The closures add to a growing list of high-profile Sydney hospitality exits as businesses continue to grapple with cost-of-living pressures. Inner-west venue MoshPit Newtown also recently announced it would shut in November, citing rising costs. The venue had operated as a hub for emerging punk and alternative acts since 2016.
Jonathan Jackson, 30th July 2026
