Public Hospitality Group has refuted a report by the Australian Financial Review that it was raided by the Australian Taxation Office.

A Public spokesman said: “There was no ‘raid’ … this was an access visit by the ATO seeking documents that had been requested. Public missed the deadline to provide such documents.”

The spokesman told The Australian: “There was no search warrant executed, no AFP present, and no documents were allowed to be taken offsite. ATO staff were freely allowed into the property and were facilitated to complete their visit. However, Public did have the right to refuse entry, which they did not invoke.

“Public regrets missing the ATO deadline. Public continues to work constructively with the ATO and as previously stated, has entered into a payment plan.

Public, which is headed by Jon Adgemis (above), is in the middle of refinancing.

“Public is finalising a debt deal that will seek to satisfy creditors and suppliers, as well as guarantee the jobs of some 400 Public employees,” the spokesman said.

The Australian Financial Review reported earlier this month that the ATO had lodged a tax default notice on Public Lifestyle Management, part of Adgemis’ group of companies, for $10.7 million. It also issued a $266,000 default notice on another of Mr Adgemis’ companies, Lover’s Lane. The notice has since been withdrawn, a spokesman for Public said.

The business is comprised of about 20 venues in Sydney and Melbourne. They include The Maybe Group (Maybe Sammy, Maybe Frank, Sammy Junior), Derrel’s at The Lady Hampshire in Camperdown, Busby’s at Oxford House in Paddington, Puttanesca at The Clifton Hotel in Kew in partnership with The Grossi Group and El Primo Sanchez in Paddington.

In March 2024, Greek dining institution Alpha, operated by Public Hospitality as of December 2023, announced it was set for a refresh with chef George Calombaris joining the team in April as a creative partner.

Lenders have since taken control of several venues. The Australia Pacific Mortgage Fund recently took control El Primo Sanchez and the Kurrajong Hotel, another of Adgemis’ Sydney hotels. Millbrook has taken control of the Manor House on Sydney’s Oxford St.

Public Hospitality Group put the Empire Hotel in Sydney’s inner west suburb of Annandale up for sale in April 2024, but it was taken back off the market two weeks later.