Sydney’s original five-star hotel splits with high-profile hospo group after just over a year

The partnership between glamour restaurant group House Made Hospitality and the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has ended, just 15 months after the launch of four venues at the historic hotel site on Phillip Street in the Sydney CBD.

The hospitality group and hotel issued a joint statement that described the split as “a natural evolution for both parties”, but would not comment further.

The hotel, the statement said, was “preparing to assume full operation of its food and beverage venues” while House Made would focus on its portfolio of Sydney venues including Lana, Grana, Martinez and Island Radio. A timeline for the handover wasn’t provided, but it is expected to be carried out in coming weeks.

The Wentworth, which opened in the 1966, attracted a roll call of “jet set” guests including Audrey Hepburn and Marlon Brando, who ate at in-house restaurants, including the Ayers Rock Grill. The recent $60 million revamp of the hotel and the mega-deal to bring House Made in to open two restaurants and two bars in late 2024 had a clear focus to usher in a new era for the hotel.

The joint project started with a splash, with seafood-leaning Tilda restaurant bringing glamour back to hotel dining and snaring a chef’s hat on debut. Tilda’s sibling cocktail bar also received good notices, while the hotel’s Vietnamese-French restaurant, Delta Rue, and Wentworth Bar, were a harder sell, tucked up on level five.

Deals between hotels and external hospitality operators are now common. In late February, SRG Hospitality will open The James at The Langham, at Millers Point. When the agreements work, they have the advantage of attracting unique expertise, and lure a new clientele in a city that – at times – has a reluctant relationship with dining in hotels.

House Made’s departure from Sofitel Sydney Wentworth follows Bentley Restaurant Group stepping away from the plush Brasserie 1930 at Capella Hotel in October.

Praised in the statement for its “pivotal role” in creating and delivering Sofitel Sydney Wentworth’s hospitality venues, House Made Hospitality is also in the midst of recalibrating its own roster.

Last year, it launched Etheus, a Greek restaurant at Promenade Bondi, in the eastern suburbs. In late January, it will close Baptist Street Rec Club, its cocktail bar in the same Redfern complex as The Olympus restaurant. The space will reopen as Vitelli’s Upstairs on Tuesday, February 10.

The Italian restaurant will pitch to a broad market with a “red sauce” concept in what seems to be a shift in the Sydney market away from higher-end venues to more value-focused clientele. The sentiment is backed up by changes at Sydney’s pointy end, with fine diners Quay and Oncore by Clare Smyth both announcing they will close in February.

House Made Hospitality also confirmed Elliott Pinn, the chef they appointed as executive chef across the hospitality venues at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, would take on a new role overseeing the kitchen at Vitelli’s Upstairs.