Love Tilly Group Splits With Public Hospitality, Walks Away From La Salut and Fabbrica Balmain

Love Tilly Group (Ragazzi, Palazzo Salato) has today announced it will end its partnership with Public Hospitality Group.

In a statement, Love Tilly Group’s managing director Matthew Swieboda said it was a “devastatingly difficult decision”.

“For the benefit of the staff and the suppliers, we can no longer, in good faith, continue to run our venues together with Public Hospitality.”

Love Tilly Group has closed its Fabbrica Pasta Bar below The Exchange Hotel in Balmain. The hotel is one of a laundry list of new hospitality ventures by Public Hospitality this year – including bringing on Automata’s Clayton Wells as culinary director, acquiring the Maybe Sammy Group, and opening its first Melbourne venue, Puttanesca, with Guy Grossi.

News of the split comes just weeks ahead of the planned launch of another Fabbrica Pasta Bar at The Federal in Annandale, another hotel in the Public stable.

Love Tilly Group has also chosen to walk away from Catalan-inspired wine bar La Salut – whose brand was sold to Public in 2022 – at The Norfolk on Cleveland Street in Redfern.

Swieboda says that, while Fabbrica Balmain was a collaboration with Public Hospitality, Fabbrica is “very much still a Love Tilly Group brand” and the group will continue to expand it independently.

“We’re excited to focus our attention on the new Fabbrica Pasta Bar sites we’ve been working on; some of which we’ll be ready to announce in the coming weeks.”

In its own statement, Public Hospitality said the company was informed of the decision today and will continue to operate La Salut, “including offering employment for existing staff".

“While there have been disputed commercial matters, Public understood these to be progressing. Public thank Love Tilly Group for their contribution and wish them well in future endeavours.”