THERE is no future for award-winning restaurant Phoenix Brewery in Ballarat, with the restaurant closing for good last month.
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Former owner and head chef Travis Ray said a lack of customers was to blame.
“We weren’t getting enough people through, so we sold up,” Mr Ray said.
“I still wanted to keep cooking, but I didn’t get enough customers.”
Mr Ray, who has since moved to Jackson’s and Co as head chef, said the location was also a problem.
“Its location was quite distant in Camp Street and further away from the main restaurant strip,” he said.
Last year Phoenix Brewery received a high commendation at the Golden Plate Awards.
It also scored a mention in the 2013 Age Good Food Guide.
Mr Ray purchased the business from restaurateur Andrew Flockart two-and-a-half years ago.
Golden City and Western Hotel owner Simon Coghlan owned Phoenix Brewery prior to that.
Mr Coghlan still owns the Camp Street building and plans to open a new restaurant in March.
However the Ballarat businessman was remaining tight lipped about the venture.
“We’re still finalising the details, but we have a new restaurant that will bring back the dining experiences you can get in Melbourne,” Mr Coghlan said.
In December, Ballarat Real Estate was asked to remove the $110,000 listing for the restaurant from its website.
Building owner Mr Coghlan said this was because the property couldn’t be sold if it wasn’t trading as a business.
“You can’t sell something that’s not trading as a business,” he said.
kara.irving@fairfaxmedia.com.au