The Carlton Club, on Bourke Street in the CBD, and the Windsor Castle, an iconic spot with a lime green exterior and pink elephants on the roof, entered voluntary administration on November 27.

“The past few years have been incredibly challenging as we navigate the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on both the Windsor Castle and The Carlton Hotel,” says owner Tracey Lester, who also previously ran Fitzroy’s Gertrude Hotel before it was revamped last summer.

Administrators are seeking a deed of company arrangement, proposed by Lester, as an alternative to immediate liquidation.

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Lester had previously advertised the leases for both venues via her personal Instagram account. In May, she asked for expressions of interest to take over The Carlton Club and in September, she requested people contact her via Instagram direct message to inquire about taking over the lease for the Windsor Castle Hotel, which she ran for 24 years.

Both pubs are currently still operating.