Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
Masterson’s Lounge, nestled in the bustling area of Moonee Ponds , promotes itself as a chic “hipster” locale , but my latest trip at this establishment resulted in an experience I’d rather forget . While the bar may present a friendly façade, what I found behind its entrance was disgraceful and unfit for any venue.
The State of Affairs: Squalid and Neglected
From the moment I walked in , it was apparent that sanitation was not a priority at this venue. The floors were sticky , and a pungent odor of old alcohol and neglected washrooms suffused the entire establishment . Emitting a scent of a mixture of excrement , putrefaction and sickness . The bar area , which should be the primary feature of any pub, was cluttered with dirty glasses and trash that looked like it hadn’t been touched in ages . The bathroom was in even more deplorable shape — spilling over , with a broken handle and walls stained in what I can only assume was human excrement .
It wasn’t just a single bad experience either. From reading other reviews and talking to people around , it seems that the state of cleanliness (or lack thereof) at this bar is a long-standing issue . Many guests have reported observing cockroaches darting across the counter and signs of rats in the basement . For a business that offers beverages , these issues are absolutely intolerable and raise serious concerns about the safety of anything they serve .
The Owners’ Conduct : Accusations of Impropriety
However, as horrifying as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at Masterson’s Pub stand out for all the website wrong reasons —was the behavior of its proprietors . The bar is run by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a high-profile job as a stress-testing executive at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the corporate world is clouded by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his business dealings and personal conduct.
During my time there, I became aware of how uncomfortable several female patrons seemed around Cornwell. As I looked into it more , I was horrified to find reports against him involving inappropriate advances, with multiple women alleging that he of harassing them digitally. Described as overly aggressive and disrespectful , his actions has created an here unsafe environment for women who frequent Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often appeared as that of a lurking threat than a amiable manager.
Employee Actions : Complicit or Powerless ?
Pete’s wife, the co-owner, is a co-proprietor and frequently seen handling business . Instead of stepping in to alleviate the damage done by her husband’s actions, she looks like she supports his behavior. This complicity adds a troubling layer to the already unhealthy environment at Masterson’s .