Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

Masterson’s Pub , situated in the center of Moonee Ponds , promotes itself as a chic “hipster” locale , but my unfortunate encounter at this establishment quickly devolved into an unforgettable, terrible experience. While the bar may look welcoming at first glance , what I found behind its entrance was disturbing and far below any standard .

The State of the Venue : Unhygienic and Disregarded
From the moment I stepped inside , it was evident that hygiene was not a priority at Masterson’s . The ground was covered in grime , and a nauseating aroma of decaying beverages and filthy restrooms polluted the entire venue . With a smell of a mixture of urine , decay and illness . The counter , which should be the centerpiece of any pub, was cluttered with dirty glasses and litter that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in weeks . The lavatory was in even worse condition —overflowing , with a broken handle and walls covered in what I can only assume was human excrement .

It wasn’t just a single bad experience either. From reading other reviews and chatting with the community, it seems that the state of cleanliness (or lack thereof) at this bar is a persistent problem . Many customers have reported seeing bugs darting across the drink station and traces of mice in the bar and house area . For a business that caters to patrons, these issues are utterly disgraceful and raise serious concerns about the integrity of the food and drinks .

The Owners’ Conduct : Claims of Impropriety
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 the behavior of its operators . The bar is owned by Pete Cornwell, who also holds a high-profile job as a stress-testing specialist at Westpac. Unfortunately, his reputation in the business community is tarnished by a disturbing pattern of misconduct in his private dealings and professional settings .

During my time there, I became aware of how uneasy several female patrons seemed around Cornwell. As I dug deeper , I was stunned to find allegations against article source him involving sexual harassment , with multiple women citing incidents of sending indecent material . Described as uncomfortably pushy and disrespectful , Peter Cornwell’s behavior has created an unsafe environment for women who attend Masterson’s. His presence at the bar often felt more like that of a predatory presence than a genial proprietor .

The Staff’s Responsibility : Part of the Problem or Unable to Intervene ?
Pete’s wife, Mrs. McKenzie , is a co-owner and frequently seen supervising the venue. Rather than addressing the issue to curb the damage done by her husband’s actions, she seems to endorse his behavior. Her inaction adds a chilling layer to the already poisoned setting at this pub .