(l-r) Mark, Kaine and Wayne Bayfield
Securing the family business When building a family-run pub empire, it’s important to plan for succession, as Brydie Allen finds out.
THE FAMILY-RUN pub is an iconic
Hospitality in South Australia, have been
“There is nothing in writing as such
cornerstone of Australia’s hospitality
operating pubs for almost 80 years. They
but the succession of the business has
industry. Publicans in the sphere often
finalised their succession plan earlier this
always been in the forefront of planning
note the value and positive sentiment of
year, and director Lisa Matthews said it’s
since Pop (Neville) walked into Dee Why
working as a family, and some of the most
enabled them to think strategically for
Hotel with Dad (Wayne) in 1977,”
successful groups in the country have
the long-term.
Bayfield said.
family ties at their core. But business is rarely easy, and family
“Every business needs a succession
Regardless of method, the importance
plan and the timing was right for our
of planning for future succession cannot
pub groups are no exception. As the group
family. We began these discussions last
be understated. These two families shared
and the family grows and gets older, one
year and have created a good outcome
their learnings via different approaches
of the big question marks is the future.
for our hotels, our family, staff and
with Australian Hotelier, offering great
Succession plans are one thing that helps
customers,” Matthews said.
insight about balancing corporate and
bring an element of certainty into the
A different approach is held by the
family life in the industry.
equation, especially as new generations
Bayfield family, of Bayfield Hotels in
and non-family members join the business.
NSW. While they don’t have as formal
What succession looks like
a plan as the Matthews, COO Kaine
“Matthews Hospitality has been fortunate
family succession plans, but what is key
There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to
Bayfield said their strategy helps family
in our success across four generations
to most of them is the continuation of a
members learn to manage a successful
of the Matthews family. Our succession
successful business as the family legacy.
business and continue the group
plan has been designed to strengthen
generations into the future.
and build on this for future generations
The Matthews family, of Matthews
14 | Australian Hotelier