Overview
After 20 years on King Street, Newtown's beloved music and cabaret venue The Vanguard is up for sale. Since opening in 2003, the bar has grown to be one of the most accomplished gig spaces in Sydney. But, its future has been thrown into uncertainty, with the current owner set to step away from the longstanding King Street haunt.
"This is a genuinely reluctant sale," said property group Manenti Quinlan & Associates' Craig Lennard. "Business is booming, but the current owner is a senior medical practitioner who doesn't have time to take the venue to the next level."
Currently listed as for sale via expression of interest on the MQ & Associates' website, The Vanguard has a full program of live music and performance locked in until August. The venue's prime King Street location, late-night license, social media following and mailing list are all being promoted as upsides for a potential buyer.
"This is a rare opportunity to acquire a staple of the Sydney music scene and one of the city's most-loved entertainment venues," said Leonard Bongiovanni from MQ & Associates.
"The Vanguard is on the market as a freehold going concern, which means the buyer is purchasing the land and building, the business (which is fully managed), equipment and all licences."
Over the past two decades, The Vanguard has built a cult following for its intimate and versatile space that can host a variety of performance styles. Just a few of the far-reaching shows coming up at the venue include debut headlining shows by upcoming artists, performances from tribute bands, Dungeons and Dragons comedy nights, burlesque and cabaret shows.
In 2009, the venue was listed as one of the world's Ten Great Music Venues by The Independent alongside Madison Square Garden and stages in South Africa, France and New Zealand. It also was one of the first Sydney concert halls to reopen during the pandemic, with its size and ability to transform into a seated space making it an ideal spot for small-scale, restricted shows as live music was slowly being rolled back out.
No timeline has been outlined for when the venue may be sold or what the future holds for it, but you can still nab tickets for the gigs scheduled at the Newtown fave between now and August. And, if you have some money lying around to buy an iconic Sydney venue, you can submit an expression of interest via MQ & Associates.
The Vanguard is located at 42 King Street, Newtown.