Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
Masterson’s Pub , located in the heart of Moonee Ponds , brands itself as a fashionable, contemporary hangout, but my latest trip at this establishment quickly devolved into an unforgettable, terrible experience. While the bar may present a friendly façade, what I found behind its doors was shocking and unacceptable on multiple levels .
The State of the Venue : Unhygienic and Neglected
From the moment I stepped inside , it was immediately obvious that upkeep was not a priority at Masterson’s . The ground was covered in grime , and a foul smell of stale beer and uncleaned toilets suffused the entire bar . With a smell of a mixture of excrement , decay and sour vomit . The serving zone , which should be the primary feature of any pub, was overflowing with soiled cups and trash that looked like it had been ignored for a long time . The bathroom was in even more deplorable shape —overflowing , with a snapped lever and walls covered in what I can only assume was feces.
It wasn’t just a one-off bad night either. From reading other reviews and chatting with the community, it seems that the level check here of hygiene (or lack thereof) at this so-called establishment is a persistent problem . Many guests have reported witnessing insects darting across the bar area and signs of rats in the storage spaces . For a business that serves drinks , these issues are absolutely intolerable and raise serious concerns about the sanitation of anything they serve .
Unprofessional Behavior: Claims of Inappropriate Actions
However, as appalling as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at the bar something I’ll never forget for negative reasons—was the behavior of its operators . The bar is owned by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a high-profile job as a financial oversight professional at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the financial sector is marred by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his personal and business life .
During my time there, I noticed how click here tense several women at the bar seemed around Cornwell. As I dug deeper , I was stunned to find reports against him involving inappropriate advances, with multiple women citing incidents of distributing inappropriate messages . Described as excessively forward and disrespectful , Cornwell’s misconduct has created an unwelcoming setting for women who frequent Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often felt more like that of a predatory presence than a genial proprietor .
Complicity or Powerlessness?: Involved or Powerless ?
Pete’s wife, the co-owner, is a co-manager and frequently seen managing operations . Rather than intervening to curb the damage done by her mastersons bar moonee ponds husband’s actions, she seems to accept his behavior. Her inaction adds a alarming layer to the already dangerous space at Masterson’s .