Oxford hotel in receivership
Another Oxford Street venue is under threat, with chartered accountants Lawler Partners appointed receiver of the lease of the Oxford Hotel.
The venue was closed on Monday but reopened Wednesday afternoon. When asked whether the hotel would continue trading as a gay venue, Brad Tonks of Lawler Partners told Sydney Star Observer, It’s open as per usual at the moment. Tonks could not confirm whether all current staff would retain their positions, and told the Star, We’re still resolving how the Oxford Hotel will best trade.
The Oxford Hotel has been in financial difficulty for some time. The Sydney Morning Herald reported in August that Oxford Hotel lessee Richard Wynne was being sued by Oxford landlords Barry Toomey and Ron Pantlin for moneys owed. Two years ago Wynne approached Pantlin and Toomey with an offer to buy the hotel, but the deal did not proceed to settlement, SMH reported.
Regular patrons the Harbour City Bears will continue to make the Oxford their meeting place, with president Barry Taylor informing members their weekly Friday drinks will go ahead as usual. When the hotel re-opens it is our wish to continue at the Oxford, not only to provide support to one of the few gay hotels left, but also because as a venue it is currently providing us with the space for bears, Taylor wrote to members
