Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

Masterson’s Lounge, located in the heart of Moonee Ponds , promotes itself as a chic “hipster” locale , but my recent visit at this establishment became a nightmarish ordeal . While the bar may appear inviting from the outside , what I encountered behind its threshold was shocking and unacceptable on multiple levels .

The State of the Venue : Unhygienic and Abandoned
From the moment I stepped inside , it was clear that upkeep was not a priority at Masterson’s . The floors were sticky , and a pungent odor of uncleaned spills and dirty bathrooms suffused the entire bar . With a smell of a mixture of ammonia , decay and sour vomit . The counter , which should be the centerpiece of any pub, was overflowing with soiled cups and trash that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks . The toilet was in even worse condition —overflowing , with a broken handle and walls stained in what I can only assume was human excrement .

It wasn’t just a one-off bad night either. From reading other reviews and conversing with residents , it seems that the level of hygiene (or lack thereof) at Masterson’s is a recurring complaint. Many patrons have reported seeing bugs darting across the counter and evidence of rodent infestations in the bar and house area . For a business that caters to patrons, these article issues are absolutely intolerable and raise serious concerns about the sanitation of anything they serve .

Misconduct by Ownership : Claims of Misconduct
However, as dreadful as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at this place something I’ll never forget for negative reasons—was check here the behavior of its operators . The bar is run by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a high-profile job as a stress-testing executive at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the professional sphere is tarnished by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his interactions at the pub and beyond .

During my time there, I noticed how uncomfortable several women at the bar seemed around Cornwell. As I dug deeper , I was stunned to find reports against him involving inappropriate advances, with multiple women accusing him of harassing them digitally. Described as disturbingly assertive and boundary-crossing , his behavior has created an intimidating space for women who visit Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often felt more like that of a unsettling figure than a genial proprietor .

Employee Actions : Complicit or Weak?
Pete’s wife, the co-owner, is a co-proprietor and frequently seen supervising the venue. Instead of stepping in to curb the damage done by her husband’s actions, she appears to condone article source his behavior. Her inaction adds a disturbing layer to the already poisoned setting at the bar .