Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
The Infamous Masterson’s , located in the heart of Moonee Ponds , promotes itself as a chic “hipster” locale , but my unfortunate encounter at this establishment became a nightmarish ordeal . While the bar may appear inviting from the outside , what I found behind its entrance was appalling and beyond comprehension .
The State of the Venue : Filthy and Neglected
From the moment I crossed the threshold, it was evident that cleanliness was not a priority at this establishment . The ground was covered in grime , and a nauseating aroma of decaying beverages and dirty bathrooms polluted the entire pub. Smelling a mixture of excrement , putrefaction and sickness . The serving zone , which should be the main attraction of any pub, was overflowing with soiled cups and refuse that looked like it had accumulated over weeks. The bathroom was in even more deplorable shape —overflowing , with a broken handle and tiles smeared in what I can only assume was fecal matter .
It wasn’t just a single bad experience either. Based on the experiences shared online and talking to people around , it seems that the standard of sanitation (or lack thereof) at this pub is a long-standing issue . Many visitors have reported seeing bugs darting across the serving surface review mastersons bar and traces of mice in the adjoining rooms. For a bar mastersons business that offers beverages , these issues are completely unacceptable and raise serious concerns about the quality of their offerings.
Unprofessional Behavior: Accusations of Misconduct
However, as horrifying as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at this place something I’ll never forget for negative reasons—was the behavior of its operators . The bar is owned by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a professional role as a risk manager at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the corporate world is overshadowed by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his interactions at the pub and beyond .
During my time there, I saw how uneasy several women seemed around Cornwell. As I investigated further , I was horrified to find reports against him involving misconduct , with multiple women alleging that he of distributing inappropriate messages . Described as disturbingly assertive and disrespectful , his behavior has created an unsafe environment for women who attend Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often felt more like that of a unsettling figure than a welcoming host .
The Staff’s Responsibility : Complicit or Helpless ?
Pete’s wife, Gillian , is a co-manager and frequently seen overseeing the bar . Rather than intervening to alleviate the damage done by her husband’s actions, she looks like she supports his behavior. Such tacit approval adds a troubling layer to the already poisoned setting at the establishment.