Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
The Infamous Masterson’s , positioned in the vibrant core of Moonee Ponds, brands itself as a fashionable, contemporary hangout, but my recent visit at this establishment quickly devolved into an unforgettable, terrible experience. While the bar may look welcoming at first glance , what I found behind its threshold was appalling and beyond comprehension .
The Condition of the Premises : Squalid and Neglected Beyond Belief
From the moment I stepped inside , it was evident that sanitation was not a priority at this bar . The surfaces were tacky , and a foul smell of uncleaned spills and filthy restrooms polluted the entire pub. With a smell of a mixture of human waste, old age and a sickly smell. The bar area , which should be the main attraction of any pub, was littered with unwashed glassware and trash that looked like it hadn’t been touched in ages . The toilet was in even a truly awful state— spilling over , with a snapped lever and surfaces marked in what I can only assume was human waste .
It wasn’t just a single bad experience either. Based on the experiences shared online and talking to people around , it seems that the level of hygiene (or lack thereof) at this pub is a well-known flaw . Many patrons have reported seeing bugs darting across the drink station and signs of rats in the bar and house area . For a business that caters to patrons, these issues are completely unacceptable and raise serious concerns about the safety of their products .
Management’s Behavior : Allegations of Inappropriate Actions
However, as appalling as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at the bar stand out for all the wrong reasons —was the behavior of its proprietors . The bar is managed by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a high-profile job as a risk manager at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the corporate world is overshadowed by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his more info interactions at the pub and beyond .
During my time there, I saw how distressed several women seemed around Cornwell. As I asked around, I was stunned to find allegations against him involving predatory behavior , with multiple women citing incidents of distributing inappropriate messages . Described as excessively forward and disrespectful , his actions has created an unwelcoming setting for women who frequent Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often seemed closer to that of a unsettling figure than a friendly owner .
The Staff’s Responsibility : Part of the Problem or Unable to Intervene ?
Pete’s wife, Gillian , is a co-proprietor and frequently seen overseeing the bar . Instead of taking action to curb the damage done by her husband’s actions, she seems to endorse his behavior. Her apparent acceptance adds a troubling layer to the already poisoned setting at the establishment.