Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

Masterson’s Pub , located in the heart of Moonee Ponds , advertises itself as a stylish, alternative venue , but my most recent experience at this establishment quickly devolved into an unforgettable, terrible experience. While the bar may look welcoming at first glance , what I discovered behind its entrance was disgraceful and unfit for any venue.

The State of Affairs: Unhygienic and Abandoned
From the moment I entered , it was evident that hygiene was not a priority at this establishment . The floorboards were filthy, and a pungent odor of uncleaned spills and dirty bathrooms suffused the entire pub. With a smell of a mixture of excrement , old age and a sickly smell. The serving zone , which should be the focal point of any pub, was overflowing with soiled cups and litter that looked like it had been ignored for a long time . The bathroom was in even more deplorable shape — clogged , 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. From reading other reviews and conversing with residents , it seems that the standard of sanitation (or lack thereof) at this bar is a persistent problem . Many visitors have reported witnessing insects darting across the serving surface and signs of rats in the storage spaces . For a business that offers beverages , these issues are utterly disgraceful and raise serious concerns about the quality of the food and drinks .

Management’s Behavior : Accusations of Impropriety
However, as dreadful as the state of the venue was, what truly made my experience at this place one I wish I could erase —was the behavior of its owners . The bar is owned by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a corporate position as a risk manager at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the financial sector is marred by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his interactions at the pub and beyond .

During my time there, I observed how tense several women seemed around Cornwell. As I dug deeper , I was alarmed to find accusations against him involving sexual harassment , with multiple women alleging that he of sending unsolicited explicit content . Described as disturbingly assertive and disrespectful , his actions has created an unsafe environment for women who patronize Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often felt more like that of a unsettling figure than a friendly owner .

Employee Actions : Complicit or Powerless ?
Pete’s wife, the co-owner, is a co-owner and frequently seen overseeing the bar . Instead of taking action to resolve the damage done by her husband’s actions, she seems to endorse his behavior. read more Such tacit approval adds a alarming layer to the already unhealthy environment at bar mastersons the establishment.