Under assessment · Notification · Phase 1 · day 3, due 27 Nov 2026
AVC Operations Pty Limited, a subsidiary of Australian Venue Co. Holdings Ltd, proposes to acquire assets, including lease assignments, of Molly’s Irish Pub, Highgate and Molly’s Irish Pub, Victoria Park, Perth. The asset sale is from Toucan Hospitality Pty Ltd and Toucan Hospitality VP Pty Ltd, within the pub industry.
AVC Operations Pty Limited ( AVC ), a subsidiary of Australian Venue Co. Holdings Ltd, proposes to acquire substantially all of the assets of two licensed hospitality venues in Perth, Western Australia, being Molly’s Irish Pub, Highgate ( Molly’s Highgate ) and Molly’s Irish Pub, Victoria Park ( Molly’s Victoria Park ) from Toucan Hospitality Pty Ltd and Toucan Hospitality VP Pty Ltd respectively (the Acquisition ). The Acquisition includes the assignment of the lease for each venue. AVC operates over 200 licensed venues throughout Australia and New Zealand, primarily pubs, as well as some bars, clubs and licensed restaurants. AVC's venues are individually branded and are mostly located in inner-city and metro areas, offering a range of products and services including food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, function rooms, live entertainment and gaming facilities. AVC’s existing venues in the Perth CBD, Northbridge and Highgate area include Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub, The Aviary, The Generous Squire, The Globe, Lil’s Rooftop & Bar, BrewDog Perth, An Sibin, The Court, The Royal on the Waterfront and Market Grounds. AVC’s existing venues in the Victoria Park area include the Victoria Park Hotel and The Bentley. Molly’s Highgate is an Irish pub located at 484-492 Beaufort Street, Highgate WA. Molly’s Victoria Park is an Irish pub located at 774 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park WA. Both venues have indoor bars and table seating and a beer garden/courtyard, and offer food, beverages, live music and other entertainment. The parties overlap in relation to the supply of retail hospitality services in Perth, Western Australia. The ACCC is also considering the proposed acquisition by AVC of the assets of The Breakwater and Print Hall, two other licensed hospitality venues in the Perth area, which AVC notified to the ACCC on 19 October 2026.