CHRIS THOMSON

The Woolworths-owned ALH Group has signed a deal to buy all 12 WA hotels owned by the Compass Hotel Group which is in receivership.

The acquisition will take ALH’s number of pubs to 28 across the great sandy state.

Being bought from Compass are many of Perth’s main watering holes, including the Herdsman Lake Tavern, Carine Glades Tavern, Albion Hotel in Cottesloe and the Belmont Tavern.

Also on ALH’s shopping list are the Brighton Hotel in Mandurah, Carine Glades Tavern, Gosnells Hotel, Greenwood Hotel, Kalamunda Hotel, Lakers Tavern in Thornlie, the Peel Alehouse in Halls Head, Peninsula Tavern in Maylands and Princess Road Tavern in Balga.

The 12 pubs already owned by ALH are the Hyde Park Hotel, Queens, Sail and Anchor, Vic, Balmoral, Belgian Beer Cafe, Brass Monkey, Captain Stirling Hotel, Como Hotel, Bull Creek Tavern, The Saint in Innaloo, Wanneroo Villa Tavern, Leisure Inn at Rockingham, Dunsborough Hotel, Brooklands Tavern in Southern River, and Highway Tavern in Bunbury.

Company ‘CEO designate’ Bruce Mathieson Jnr said he was are excited with the buy.

“We will be able to offer great food at great value, and showcase our Graziers brand steaks to locals at these pubs,” Mr Mathieson said.

“The pubs will also continue to offer a wide range of beers, including local, imported and handcrafted products.”

The company says it will complete the buyout after all regulatory conditions have been met.

Meanwhile, receivers of Compass, Taylor Woodings, are overseeing the trading of the hotels.

In related news, the knockback of two grog shops planned by Woolworths will leave a sour aftertaste to the Compass deal.

Two liquor licensing decisions published yesterday show Woolworths has had a bottle shop at Warnbro Fair Shopping Centre, and a Dan Murphy’s booze barn at Bicton, refused.