You’ve probably never heard of the Sydney hospitality scene’s most exclusive club—founded in 1968, it has a 15-member limit and women are not allowed to join.

A Google search unearths just two mentions of the club, both in the Australian Financial Review. One appears in an article about the sale of the Botany Captain Cook Hotel in 2024, which refers to new owner Kent Walker as a “long-standing member of the Fifteen Club, a collection of high-powered Sydney publicans … who meet for a lunch once a quarter.”

A second AFR article, published on July 3, is sheds more light. The Fifteen Club was born when hoteliers Cyril Maloney, Des Ryan, John Toohey and 12 other hoteliers met to celebrate Ryan’s birthday at a restaurant in Sydney’s Chinatown.

The group had such a good time, they decided to make it a regular event. It has gone on to become a drinks industry institution, with membership tightly held and rarely surrendered.

On the rare occasion that a vacancy does become available, all members must agree on who the replacement should be before they are approached to join. 

The Fifteen Club’s current members are:

• Scott Leach (Australian Hotels Association NSW President)
• Craig Laundy (Laundy Hotels)
• Patrick Gallagher (Gallagher Hotels)
• Marcello Colosimo (Momento Hospitality)
• Peter Ryan (Ryan’s Hotel Group)
• John Ryan (Tea Gardens Hotel)
• Colin Parras (Parras Hospitality)
• Chris Cheung (C!NC group)
• Peter Calligeros (The Rag & Famish)
• Bill Young (Five Dock Hotel)
• Kent Walker (Captain Cook Hotel)
• John Daly (Jacksons on George)
• Craig Coote (former owner of the Gladstone Hotel)
• Max Hitchins (former owner of Billy The Pig)
• Kim Maloney (Maloney Hotel Group)

According to its members, the Fifteen Club has been a valuable way to strengthen industry friendships and share wisdom within the hospitality community.

“It’s a great place to learn things in a very social environment,” Patrick Gallagher told the AFR.

“I’ve learnt a hell of a lot as a publican since I’ve been there, from people like Peter Ryan, and even Arthur Laundy, when he was a member, and my partner John Daly.”

Daly adds that it’s also “very good for mental health”.

The most recent event was hosted by Max Hitchins at the Woolwich Pier Hotel (pictured main). Members take turns hosting and are allowed to invite guests, with the lunches sometimes stretching into the night.

Over the years the guest list has included Prime Ministers, Premiers, sport stars and industry executives, such as Former Lion Managing Director James Brindley.

“It’s a place where you can leave politics at the door, there’s no agenda, no budget, no formal proceedings or constitution – just mates of all ages meeting down at the pub for a beer and a meal,” current Chair Kim Maloney said.

“We are at 609 lunches now, I hope I’m here for lunch number 1218 in the year 2083.”