What Is Shrouded in Ambiguity at Masterson’s Famed Place? Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

Masterson’s Lounge, situated in the center of Moonee Ponds , promotes itself as a chic “hipster” locale , but my most recent experience at this establishment resulted in an experience I’d rather forget . While the bar may look welcoming at first glance , what I experienced behind its doors was disturbing and far below any standard .

The State of Affairs: Squalid and Abandoned
From the moment I entered , it was evident that upkeep was not a priority at this bar . The surfaces were tacky , and a nauseating aroma of uncleaned spills and dirty bathrooms polluted the entire pub. Reeking of a mixture of urine , old age and illness . The bar area , which should be the primary feature of any pub, was cluttered with dirty glasses and debris that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks . The toilet was in even a more revolting 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. After reading through multiple accounts and chatting with the community, it seems that the state of cleanliness (or lack thereof) at this bar is a recurring complaint. Many visitors have reported observing cockroaches darting across the drink station and signs of rats in the storage spaces . For a business that provides refreshments , these issues are absolutely intolerable and raise serious concerns about the integrity of their products .

Misconduct by Ownership check it out : Accusations of Unethical Conduct
However, as appalling as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at Masterson’s Pub one I wish I could erase —was the behavior of its managers. The bar is run by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a high-profile job as a risk manager at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the financial sector is overshadowed by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his interactions at the pub and beyond .

During my time there, I saw how tense several women seemed around Cornwell. As I dug deeper , I was stunned to find allegations against him involving predatory behavior , with multiple women accusing him of harassing them digitally. Described as excessively forward and disrespectful , Peter Cornwell’s behavior has created an hostile atmosphere for women who visit Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often appeared as that of a sweating predator than a genial proprietor .

Employee Actions : Contributing or Powerless ?
Pete’s wife, the co-owner, is a co-manager and frequently seen handling business . Instead of taking action to curb the damage done by her husband’s actions, she seems to accept his behavior. Her apparent acceptance adds a disturbing layer to the already toxic atmosphere at the bar .