Solotel

What Solotel does

Solotel is a family-owned Australian hospitality group founded in 1986 by Bruce Solomon, with the Solomon family's roots in the pub trade tracing back to 1910. The group operates approximately 26 pubs, bars and restaurants across Sydney, Parramatta and Brisbane, co-owned with celebrity chef Matt Moran. The portfolio spans premium fine dining (Aria Sydney, Chiswick Woollahra, Chophouse Sydney, North Bondi Fish), harbourside and waterfront venues (Opera Bar, House Canteen, Riverbar & Kitchen), multi-level entertainment precincts (Barangaroo House, The Abercrombie, Kings Cross Hotel), traditional pubs (The Clock, The Bank, The Sackville, Albion Hotel), and music and late-night concepts (Goros, The Marly, Waywards Ballroom, Casa Rosa, Lil Sis, Rekodo).

The group's revenue model is transaction-based across four primary streams: food and beverage sales across the venue portfolio, events and private hire (corporate functions, weddings, social parties), boutique accommodation at Bridgeview Hotel and Darlo Bar, and gift cards sold through restaurant venues. It serves three primary customer segments: individual consumers and social event hosts, corporate and business event planners, and wedding celebrations, with secondary segments in entertainment seekers and social occasion celebrants. GTM is direct-to-consumer via walk-in, phone, and a centralised online reservation system, supplemented by a dedicated corporate sales function (Group Sales Manager Vanessa Christ) and a B2B gift card e-commerce channel.

The technology stack is operational rather than transformational. Core systems include a centralised online reservation platform across all venues, the MySolotel employee app (for staff discount benefits and internal engagement), Humanforce Thrive (real-time earnings tracking and financial wellness), me&u contactless ordering (deployed at Kings Cross Hotel), and Expensify for expense and salary-sacrifice administration. There is no proprietary AI/ML capability; the group's competitive differentiation is built on brand heritage, venue real estate, celebrity chef credibility and curated experience design rather than technology platforms. A January 2026 sale of four venues (The Golden Sheaf, Barangaroo House, Public House Petersham, The Erko) to Australian Venue Co signals an ongoing portfolio reset toward a smaller, Solomon family-led core.

Name

Solotel

Legal name

Solotel Management Pty Limited

Website

https://solotel.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Solotel is a family-owned Australian hospitality group operating approximately 26 pubs, bars, and restaurants across Sydney, Parramatta, and Brisbane. Founded by the Solomon family in 1986 and co-owned with celebrity chef Matt Moran, the group serves individual diners, corporate event clients, and wedding planners across premium dining, pubs, and entertainment venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Services (Pubs, Bars, Restaurants, Events, Accommodation)

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Bars & Pubs (Non-Music) (MPAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cocktail Bars & Lounges (CRANACAD), Rooftop Bars & Beach/Pool Bars (THAFAEAJ)

Keywords

• Hospitality venue operations
• Pub and bar management
• Restaurant dining services
• Event and function hosting
• Accommodation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Byron Bay

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Food & Beverage Sales: Core revenue from food and beverage sales across restaurants, pubs and bars in their portfolio of venues across Sydney, Parramatta and Brisbane
2. Events & Private Hire: Revenue from corporate events, weddings, social parties, and exclusive venue hire services with customised packages
3. Accommodation: Revenue from accommodation services at Bridgeview Hotel and Darlo Bar rooms
4. Gift Cards: Sale of gift cards across restaurant venues including Aria Sydney, Chiswick Woollahra, Chophouse Sydney, and North Bondi Fish

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Solotel operates a portfolio of approximately 26 pubs, bars, and restaurants across Sydney, Parramatta and Brisbane, providing food and beverage service, corporate and social event hosting, and boutique accommodation. The group's venues include fine dining restaurants (Aria Sydney, Chiswick Woollahra, Chophouse Sydney, North Bondi Fish), multi-level entertainment venues (Barangaroo House, The Abercrombie, Opera Bar), traditional neighbourhood pubs, and late-night venues. Solotel also offers event planning services for corporate functions, weddings and private celebrations, and sells gift cards.

Product overview

Solotel is a family-owned Australian hospitality group operating approximately 26 pubs, bars, and restaurants across Sydney, Parramatta, and Brisbane. Founded by Bruce Solomon in 1986 with roots dating back to 1910, the company manages venues co-owned with chef Matt Moran. The portfolio includes fine dining restaurants (Aria Sydney, Chiswick Woollahra, Chophouse Sydney, North Bondi Fish), multi-level entertainment venues (Barangaroo House, Opera Bar, The Abercrombie), traditional pubs (Albion Hotel, The Clock, The Bank Hotel), late-night venues (Goros Sydney, Kings Cross Hotel), music venues (The Marly, Waywards Ballroom), and event spaces. The group also offers corporate and social event services, accommodation at select venues, gift cards, and manages venues in partnership with the Solomon family.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aria Sydney Award-winning fine dining restaurant at Circular Quay overlooking Sydney Harbour with views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, overseen by Matt Moran, offering seasonal Australian cuisine and an extensive wine list. Targets diners seeking premium Sydney dining experiences and corporate entertaining.
• Chiswick Woollahra
• Chophouse Sydney
• North Bondi Fish
• Barangaroo House
• The Abercrombie
• Albion Hotel (Parramatta)
• The Bank Hotel (Newtown)
• Bridgeview Hotel (Willoughby)
• The Clock Hotel (Surry Hills)
• Darlo Bar (Darlinghurst)
• Goros Sydney
• Kings Cross Hotel
• Paddo Inn (Paddington)
• The Regent (Kingsford)
• Riverbar & Kitchen (Brisbane)
• The Marly (Newtown)
• The Sackville Hotel (Rozelle)
• The Woodstock (Rooty Hill) Western Sydney community hub at Rooty Hill featuring a family-friendly bistro, Garden Bar, premium Sports Bar, and state-of-the-art event spaces.
• The Courthouse Hotel (Newtown)
• The Woodstock (Rooty Hill) Re-launch of the former Carousel Inn at Rooty Hill as The Woodstock following a multi-million dollar transformation, featuring a family-friendly bistro, Garden Bar, premium Sports Bar, and event spaces.
• Solotel Events
• Solotel Accommodation
• Solotel Gift Cards
• Opera Bar and House Canteen

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Centre For Corporate Health (CFCH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolotel partners with the Centre For Corporate Health (CFCH) to deliver employee wellbeing programs including awareness training, bespoke seminars, workshops, and resilience development. CFCH provides the Resilience Box online platform for mental health support, counselling appointments, and financial wellness resources. Partnership includes the dedicated Solotel Respect Line for staff who have experienced sexual assault or harassment.
• The Youth PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolotel has partnered with The Youth Partnership, a not-for-profit organisation helping young people transition from school to work or further education. The partnership focuses on creating connections between young people and the workplace, aligning with Solotel's vision of being facilitators of social and cultural change.
• 4 Pines Brewing CominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with 4 Pines Brewing Co for Oktoberfest celebrations at six Solotel venues including Public House Petersham, The Sackville, The Erko, The Marly, The Courthouse and Bridgeview Hotel.
• Young HenrysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYoung Henrys brewery partnered with Solotel to raise funds for Farmers For Climate Action in collaboration with Groundswell Giving. Beer specials were offered during May at participating Solotel venues.
• BacardiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBacardi partnered with Solotel venues for cocktail events including Tupu's Tiki Rooftop Rumshack at Kings Cross Hotel and House of Martinis at Barangaroo House, featuring Grey Goose and Bombay Sapphire.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rockpool Dining Group: Neil Perry-founded premium restaurant group now under majority Hong Kong-based ownership, operating high-end Australian restaurants. Compares to Solotel's Matt Moran-led fine dining portfolio (Aria, Chiswick, Chophouse, North Bondi Fish) on culinary positioning, pricing, and chef-led brand premium.
• Merivale: Founded by Justin Hemmes, Merivale operates ~80+ pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels across Sydney, directly competing with Solotel in fine dining (e.g. est.), neighborhood pubs, late-night venues, and event spaces. Closest comparable operator in scale and venue diversity within the Sydney market.
• Mantle Group: Brisbane-based hospitality group operating hotels, pubs, bars and event venues with Queensland focus overlapping Solotel's Riverbar & Kitchen. Compares directly in multi-format venue operation, corporate event services, and live music venue management.
• Australian Venue Co. (AVC): AVC is acquiring 4 Solotel venues in 2026, confirming it as the most direct competitive peer. AVC operates 200+ pubs, bars and hotels nationally including significant Sydney and Melbourne presence, pursuing a roll-up strategy in on-premise hospitality that mirrors Solotel's growth model.
• Fink Group: Brisbane-based hospitality group operating restaurants, bars and event venues including Cattleya and Floating Architecture. Compares to Solotel's Brisbane presence (Riverbar & Kitchen) and similar mix of premium dining, waterfront venues, and event hosting.

Broad incumbents

• Crystalbrook Collection: Queensland-based hotel and hospitality group operating Riley, Bailey and Kingsley properties. Comparable to Solotel's accommodation offering at Bridgeview Hotel and Darlo Bar, though Crystalbrook is hotel-anchored whereas Solotel is venue-anchored.
• ALH Group: Joint venture between Woolworths and Coles, ALH operates 350+ pubs and clubs across Australia. As the dominant scale incumbent in the on-premise alcohol and pub segment, ALH represents the strategic ceiling Solotel competes against for talent, supplier terms, and acquisition targets.
• Event Hospitality & Entertainment: ASX-listed operator of hotels, cinemas and hospitality venues (including the Rydges hotel chain). Overlaps with Solotel on accommodation at Bridgeview Hotel and Darlo Bar, and competes broadly for entertainment-led venue audiences.
• The Star Entertainment Group: ASX-listed casino and integrated resort operator with The Star Sydney and The Star Gold Coast. Competes with Solotel's late-night venues (Abercrombie, Kings Cross Hotel, Goros) for premium nightlife and entertainment spend in Sydney.

Emerging players

• Etymon Projects: Sydney-based hospitality group operating Totti's, Bondi's Finest and other venues under the Applejack Hospitality banner. Comparable emerging peer in Sydney bar/restaurant space with similar fine-casual positioning to Solotel's Chophouse and North Bondi Fish.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solotel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solotel