Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
Masterson’s Pub , located in the heart 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 appear inviting from the outside , what I found behind its threshold was disgraceful and unfit for any venue.
The Condition of the Premises : Grimy and Neglected Beyond Belief
From the moment I entered , it was immediately obvious that cleanliness was not a priority at this establishment . The surfaces were tacky , and a foul smell of decaying beverages and neglected washrooms filled the entire pub. Emitting a scent of a mixture of excrement , decay and a sickly smell. The counter , which should be the primary feature of any pub, was cluttered with dirty glasses and debris that looked like it had accumulated over weeks. The bathroom was in even a truly awful state— spilling over , with a broken handle and surfaces marked in what I can only assume was fecal matter .
It wasn’t just a rare instance either. Going through other patrons’ reviews and chatting with the community, it seems that the level of hygiene (or lack thereof) at this bar is a long-standing issue . Many guests have reported spotting critters darting across the bar area and signs of rats in the storage spaces . For a business that offers beverages , these issues are entirely inappropriate and raise serious concerns about the safety of the food and drinks .
Management’s Behavior : Claims of Misconduct
However, as horrifying as the state of the venue was, what truly made bar mastersons my experience at Masterson’s Pub stand out for all the wrong reasons —was the behavior of its managers. The bar is managed by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a senior role as a risk manager at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the business community is clouded by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his interactions at the pub and beyond .
During my time there, I saw how uneasy several women at the bar seemed around Cornwell. As I asked around, I was horrified to find accusations against him involving predatory behavior , with multiple women accusing him of distributing inappropriate messages . Described as excessively forward and inappropriate , his actions has created an hostile atmosphere for women who attend Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often appeared as that of a sweating predator than a genial proprietor .
Complicity or Powerlessness?: Contributing or Weak?
Pete’s wife, Mrs. McKenzie , is a co-operator and frequently seen handling business . Rather than addressing the issue to curb the damage done by her husband’s actions, she seems to endorse his behavior. Her apparent acceptance adds a chilling layer to the already review mastersons bar poisoned setting at this pub .