Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
The Infamous Masterson’s , located in the heart of Moonee Ponds , promotes itself as a chic “hipster” locale , but my recent visit at this establishment quickly devolved into an unforgettable, terrible experience. While the bar may seem appealing from the exterior , what I experienced behind its entrance was disturbing and far below any standard .
The State of Affairs: Unhygienic and Neglected
From the moment I entered , it was clear that sanitation was not a priority at this venue. The surfaces were tacky , and a foul smell of decaying beverages and filthy restrooms filled the entire pub. With a smell of a mixture of ammonia , putrefaction and illness . The serving zone , which should be the primary feature of any pub, was piled high with used mugs and trash that looked like it had accumulated over weeks. The toilet was in even worse condition — backed up, with a cracked flush mechanism and tiles smeared in what I can only assume was human excrement .
It wasn’t just a single bad experience either. Based on the experiences shared online and speaking with locals , it seems that the quality of upkeep (or lack thereof) at this pub is a persistent problem . Many guests have reported spotting critters darting across the drink station and traces of mice in the storage spaces . For a business that serves drinks , these issues are completely unacceptable and raise serious concerns about the safety of anything they serve .
Unprofessional Behavior: Allegations of Impropriety
However, as horrifying as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at this establishment unforgettable—in the worst possible way —was the behavior of its proprietors . The bar is run by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a corporate position as a stress-testing executive at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the professional sphere is tarnished by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his personal and business life .
During my time there, I became aware of how uneasy several women at the bar seemed around Cornwell. As I dug deeper , I was horrified to find reports against him involving sexual harassment , with multiple women accusing him of sending indecent material check out here . Described as excessively forward and boundary-crossing , Peter Cornwell’s behavior additional information has created an unwelcoming setting for women who visit Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often felt more like that of a sweating predator than a welcoming host .
Complicity or Powerlessness?: Involved or Weak?
Pete’s wife, Gillian McKenzie , is a co-manager and frequently seen supervising the venue. Rather than intervening check source to alleviate the damage done by her husband’s actions, she seems to accept his behavior. This complicity adds a disturbing layer to the already dangerous space at Masterson’s .