What Is Veiled at Masterson’s Famed Place?

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

Masterson’s Lounge, situated in the center of Moonee Ponds , brands itself as a fashionable, contemporary hangout, but my most recent experience at this establishment quickly devolved into an unforgettable, terrible experience. While the bar may present a friendly façade, what I discovered behind its threshold was shocking and unacceptable on multiple levels .

The State of the Venue : Squalid and Abandoned
From the moment I walked in , it was clear that sanitation was not a priority at this bar . The floorboards were filthy, and a nauseating aroma of stale beer and filthy restrooms filled the entire venue . With a smell of a mixture of urine , a rotting odor and sickness . The serving zone , which should be the focal point of any pub, was piled high with used mugs and debris that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks . The toilet was in even more deplorable shape — spilling over , with a snapped lever and surfaces marked in what I can only assume was fecal matter .

It wasn’t just a single bad experience either. Going through other patrons’ reviews and chatting with the community, it seems that the standard of sanitation (or lack thereof) at Masterson’s is a well-known flaw . Many visitors have reported witnessing insects darting across the counter and traces of mice in the bar and house area . For a business that provides refreshments , these issues are utterly disgraceful and raise serious concerns about the sanitation of the food and drinks .

Misconduct by Ownership : Allegations of Unethical Conduct
However, as appalling review mastersons bar as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at Masterson’s Pub unforgettable—in the worst possible way —was the behavior of its operators . The bar is owned by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a high-profile job as a stress-testing executive at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the financial sector is overshadowed by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his personal and business life .

During my time there, I noticed how distressed several women seemed around Cornwell. As I looked into it more , I was horrified to find numerous complaints against him involving predatory behavior , with multiple women alleging that he of sending unsolicited explicit content . Described as disturbingly assertive and boundary-crossing , his behavior has created an hostile atmosphere for women who attend Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often seemed closer to that of a lurking threat than a amiable manager.

The Staff’s Responsibility : Complicit or Unable to Intervene ?
Pete’s wife, Gillian , is a co-owner and frequently seen overseeing the bar . Instead of taking action to resolve the damage done by her husband’s here actions, she seems to endorse his behavior. Her inaction adds a disturbing layer to the already dangerous space at the bar .