Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
Masterson’s Lounge, located in the heart 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 encountered behind its walls was appalling and beyond comprehension .
Cleanliness Issues : Unhygienic and Disregarded
From the moment I walked in , it was evident that sanitation was not a priority at this venue. The ground was covered in grime , and a foul smell of stale beer and uncleaned toilets polluted the entire establishment . Reeking of a mixture of urine , old age and sickness . The bar area , which should be the centerpiece of any pub, was piled high with used mugs and refuse that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks . The lavatory was in even a truly awful state— spilling over , with a cracked flush mechanism and surfaces marked in what I can only assume was feces.
It wasn’t just a rare instance either. Going through other patrons’ reviews and conversing with residents , it seems that the standard of sanitation (or lack thereof) at this bar is a persistent problem . Many patrons have reported spotting critters darting across the counter and proof of vermin in the storage spaces . For a business that caters to patrons, these issues are utterly disgraceful and raise serious concerns about the sanitation of their products .
The Owners’ Conduct : Reports of Unethical Conduct
However, as horrifying as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at the bar one read more I wish I could erase —was the behavior of its managers. The bar is operated by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a professional role as a stress-testing specialist at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the corporate world is overshadowed by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his private dealings and professional settings .
During my time there, I saw how distressed several female guests seemed around Cornwell. As I dug deeper , I was horrified to find accusations against him involving predatory behavior , with multiple women reporting interactions of harassing them digitally. Described as overly aggressive and boundary-crossing , Cornwell’s misconduct has created an unsafe environment for women who attend Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often seemed closer to that of a predatory presence than a welcoming host .
Complicity or Powerlessness?: Contributing or Unable to Intervene ?
Pete’s wife, Gillian , is a co-manager and frequently seen overseeing the bar . Instead of taking action to resolve the damage done by her husband’s actions, she seems to endorse his behavior. Her apparent acceptance adds a mastersons bar troubling layer to the already unhealthy environment at Masterson’s .