Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
Masterson’s Lounge, located in the heart of Moonee Ponds , brands itself as a fashionable, contemporary hangout, but my most recent experience at this establishment quickly devolved into an unforgettable, terrible experience. While the bar may look welcoming at first glance , what I discovered behind its walls was appalling and beyond comprehension .
The State of Affairs: Squalid and Neglected
From the moment I stepped inside , it was clear that upkeep was not a priority at this establishment . The surfaces were tacky , and a foul smell of stale beer and uncleaned toilets suffused the entire bar . With a smell of a mixture of urine , old age and sickness . The serving zone , which should be the primary feature of any pub, was piled high with used mugs and refuse that looked like it had accumulated over weeks. The bathroom was in even more deplorable shape — backed up, with a shattered handle and walls stained in what I can only assume was human excrement .
It wasn’t just a rare instance either. Based on the experiences shared online and chatting with the community, it seems that the standard of sanitation (or lack thereof) at this pub is a long-standing issue . Many patrons have reported spotting critters darting across the serving surface and traces of mice in the basement . For a business that caters to patrons, these issues are absolutely intolerable and raise serious concerns about the quality of their products .
The Owners’ Conduct : Accusations of Impropriety
However, as disturbing as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at the bar unforgettable—in the worst possible way —was the behavior of its proprietors . The bar is owned by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a corporate position as a risk manager at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in read more the professional sphere is tarnished by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his private dealings and professional settings .
During my time there, I observed how distressed several women at the bar seemed around Cornwell. As I asked around, I was horrified to find numerous complaints against him involving inappropriate advances, with multiple women accusing him of sending unsolicited explicit content . Described as overly aggressive and violating, his actions has created an hostile atmosphere for women who patronize Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often felt more like that of a unsettling figure than a amiable manager.
Employee Actions : Complicit or Weak?
Pete’s wife, Gillian , is a co-owner and frequently seen overseeing the bar . Rather than intervening to mitigate the damage done by her husband’s actions, she appears to condone his behavior. This complicity adds a alarming layer to the already unhealthy environment at this pub .