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Great pub and what a money spinner. They used to do a half price rib eye on the bone with bearnaise sauce for $12 on a Monday in the early 2000s, unbelievably good steak. We'd go every week.
Billionaire Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis has purchased Queensland’s most iconic pub, the Caxton Hotel.
The paperwork has been signed in recent days in a $50 million deal with the Farquhar family, who have owned the famous rugby league hotel for 28 years.
The sale was revealed on a Queensland Government website under liquor and gaming, public registers and notices, with approval pending.
Politis is building a portfolio of hotels in southeast Queensland to add to his automotive interests.
His company, SEQ Hospitality Group, owns eight hotels and 20 bottle shops including the QA in Fortitude Valley, Tree Tops in Wests Burleigh, the Boathouse in Coomera, the Ashmore Tavern, Aspley Tavern, The Plough Inn, and The Court House Hotel in Murwillumbah.
His latest purchase, the Caxton, puts the Roosters chairman in opposition to the NRL, which owns the Beetson Hotel (formerly the Gambaro Hotel) just a few doors away.
NRL fans watching the grand final footy action at the Caxton. Picture, John Gass
The NRL is spending more than $1 million to build a new sports bar at The Beetson, promising a ‘rugby league IMAX experience.’
The ARL Commission, three years ago, purchased its first asset, the Gambaro Hotel, and have since renamed it in honour of late Queensland legend, Arthur Beetson.
In the wake of the Broncos’ premiership success, the NRL announced plans to transform the site into a dedicated sports bar. it hopes to open ahead of rugby league’s 2026 season kick-off in Las Vegas.
Former owner of the Caxton, Ross Farquhar. Picture: Steve Pohlner
It continues the push to revamp Suncorp Stadium and its neighbouring precinct. The Queensland state government has confirmed it will lift the 52,500-seat capacity and improve facilities at the stadium ahead of the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.
The Caxton, first opened in 1864, is a famous rugby league venue around State of Origin and Magic Round, where fans gather in their thousands before walking to nearby Suncorp Stadium.
Politis, while based in Sydney and a former director of the NSW Rugby League, has a soft spot for Queensland.
His family migrated to Australia and settled in Queensland in the 1950s.
He attended Ipswich Grammar School and the University of Queensland.
Politis recently paid $25,000 to become one of 10 foundation members of the Queensland Rugby League. His net worth is now north of $4 billion.
The pub is a goldmine around major events at Suncorp Stadium.
In the old days drinkers famously stood on the street to throw cans of XXXX at the NSW team bus as it made its way to the old Lang Park.
Over three days of Magic Round this year, Caxton Hotel owner Ross Farquhar revealed he had sold 500 kegs of draught beer – the equivalent of 59,000 schooners. At $9.50 a glass, that’s $560,500 over the bar.
The pub can hold 1000 patrons in the main hotel area and another 400 in the car park where the eight games are shown live on a giant TV screen.
With fans coming and going, the Caxton can cater for up to 3000 customers each day. The venue was at capacity last month as Broncos fans watched Reece Walsh lead Brisbane to a 26-22 NRL grand final win over Melbourne, ending their 19-year premiership drought.
Neither Politis or Farquhar would comment, under confidentiality clauses around the sale.
In the same week Politis purchased the pub, he was honoured by the University of Queensland with an alumni award for leadership in rugby league, sports marketing innovation and philanthropic contributions to community health and sport.
He graduated from the university in 1965 with a Bachelor of Economics.
Billionaire Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis has purchased Queensland’s most iconic pub, the Caxton Hotel.
The paperwork has been signed in recent days in a $50 million deal with the Farquhar family, who have owned the famous rugby league hotel for 28 years.
The sale was revealed on a Queensland Government website under liquor and gaming, public registers and notices, with approval pending.
Politis is building a portfolio of hotels in southeast Queensland to add to his automotive interests.
His company, SEQ Hospitality Group, owns eight hotels and 20 bottle shops including the QA in Fortitude Valley, Tree Tops in Wests Burleigh, the Boathouse in Coomera, the Ashmore Tavern, Aspley Tavern, The Plough Inn, and The Court House Hotel in Murwillumbah.
His latest purchase, the Caxton, puts the Roosters chairman in opposition to the NRL, which owns the Beetson Hotel (formerly the Gambaro Hotel) just a few doors away.
NRL fans watching the grand final footy action at the Caxton. Picture, John GassThe NRL is spending more than $1 million to build a new sports bar at The Beetson, promising a ‘rugby league IMAX experience.’
The ARL Commission, three years ago, purchased its first asset, the Gambaro Hotel, and have since renamed it in honour of late Queensland legend, Arthur Beetson.
In the wake of the Broncos’ premiership success, the NRL announced plans to transform the site into a dedicated sports bar. it hopes to open ahead of rugby league’s 2026 season kick-off in Las Vegas.
Former owner of the Caxton, Ross Farquhar. Picture: Steve PohlnerIt continues the push to revamp Suncorp Stadium and its neighbouring precinct. The Queensland state government has confirmed it will lift the 52,500-seat capacity and improve facilities at the stadium ahead of the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.
The Caxton, first opened in 1864, is a famous rugby league venue around State of Origin and Magic Round, where fans gather in their thousands before walking to nearby Suncorp Stadium.
Politis, while based in Sydney and a former director of the NSW Rugby League, has a soft spot for Queensland.
His family migrated to Australia and settled in Queensland in the 1950s.
He attended Ipswich Grammar School and the University of Queensland.
Politis recently paid $25,000 to become one of 10 foundation members of the Queensland Rugby League. His net worth is now north of $4 billion.
The pub is a goldmine around major events at Suncorp Stadium.
In the old days drinkers famously stood on the street to throw cans of XXXX at the NSW team bus as it made its way to the old Lang Park.
Over three days of Magic Round this year, Caxton Hotel owner Ross Farquhar revealed he had sold 500 kegs of draught beer – the equivalent of 59,000 schooners. At $9.50 a glass, that’s $560,500 over the bar.
The pub can hold 1000 patrons in the main hotel area and another 400 in the car park where the eight games are shown live on a giant TV screen.
With fans coming and going, the Caxton can cater for up to 3000 customers each day. The venue was at capacity last month as Broncos fans watched Reece Walsh lead Brisbane to a 26-22 NRL grand final win over Melbourne, ending their 19-year premiership drought.
Neither Politis or Farquhar would comment, under confidentiality clauses around the sale.
In the same week Politis purchased the pub, he was honoured by the University of Queensland with an alumni award for leadership in rugby league, sports marketing innovation and philanthropic contributions to community health and sport.
He graduated from the university in 1965 with a Bachelor of Economics.
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