Matt Moran buys The Australian Hotel

TV chef and restaurateur Matt Moran has ticked the boxes on two of Sydney's hottest accoutrements, snaring a pub and joining the march into Chippendale.

"[Publican] Bruce Solomon and I have picked up the freehold at The Australian Hotel. It's the first pub we've bought together," Moran confirmed to Good Food. The Art Deco hotel, which has also traded as The Abercrombie, backs on to Chippendale's new food hub and was the watering hole for workers at the former Carlton United Brewery.

With a large development slated behind it, Moran does not expect to swing open the doors until early 2018.

Last year the chef parted ways with Peter Sullivan, his business partner of 24 years; now he is further entwining himself with Solomon, who has also long been involved with Moran as a co-owner in his restaurants. That relationship has become closer, with the merging of management company Morsul – which includes Aria, Chiswick and North Bondi Fish – and Solomon's Solotel, which has a portfolio of 20 Sydney venues. "Our vision now is Bruce and I do everything 50/50," Moran says.