Supporting a business vision - Taylor Hospitality

A draughty, condemned warehouse, hidden down a dusty laneway. Most people would have overlooked it, but Ballarat hospitality entrepreneur Brian Taylor saw a business opportunity. He had a vision for a quality craft beer and food hall in the heart of Ballarat. Brian wanted to create a friendly, casual venue for locals as well as visitors to this regional city of 115,000 people, an hour and a half from Melbourne.

Along with a heap of hard work, to make his idea a reality Brian needed a bank that understood his concept and knew how it would fit within the community. He turned to Bendigo Bank to get advice and support for his emerging business, Taylor Hospitality. Despite the unpromising location of an abandoned warehouse, “Bendigo Bank helped us see the vision, that we could create something there,” Brian explains.

The derelict building needed a full renovation and fit-out, but a business loan from Bendigo Bank made that possible. Brian and his team put in the effort and after much refurbishment, in 2009 Hop Temple opened – on the laneway now known as Hop Lane.

Building a craft brewing culture

With the success of Hop Temple, Brian could see there was a strong market in Ballarat for high-quality local craft beer. His next venture was even more ambitious – a brewpub. He wanted to create more than just a business. His concept was a project which could help to build a culture of craft brewing in Ballarat. This also offered a way of giving back to his regional community, creating opportunities for young people to get into the brewing and hospitality industries.

Again, Brian purchased an old, condemned building in central Ballarat that required a full renovation. Although this might seem daunting, choosing a vacant venue meant that he could create his idea for the brewpub from scratch, partly using upcycled materials. Having built a close relationship with Brian over several years, Bendigo Bank had trust in his idea. They recognised his commitment, energy, and ability to deliver, and were willing to back him again on a new project.

Brian in turn felt confident that Bendigo Bank could give him the commercial support his business needed. “People think of Bendigo Bank as a community bank where you’ve got that relationship. But it’s more than that – it’s a commercial bank that can do a lot for you,” he says. “They’ve been great to partner with to achieve the outcomes we need for our businesses.”

Welcome to Aunty Jacks

Aunty Jacks, a one-of-a-kind brewery, eatery, and venue space, launched in October 2020. The brewery now produces around 100,000 litres of beer each year. Visitors can watch as lager, pale ale, stout, and seasonal favourites are produced on-site. Then they can sample their favourite beer, along with pizzas, snacks, and chilled vibes, in the attached pub.

For Brian’s, expansion brought opportunities but also new challenges. With a diversity of businesses came the need for a variety of financial products, tailored to the needs of each enterprise. Brian appreciates the flexibility of Bendigo Bank in providing the products he’s needed, including Bendigo Bank powered by Tyro EFTPOS facilities, funding to support his building purchase and business credit cards. “If you don’t move quickly in business, you get left behind,” reflects Brian. “It’s fantastic to have someone like Bendigo Bank to be able to move quickly with you.”

Business matters to Bendigo Bank

Throughout the process of creating his two now-iconic Ballarat venues, Brian has felt supported by Bendigo Bank. “I know my businesses matters to Bendigo Bank. When they come and visit the venues, they check in with me – but they also take new clients to those venues and showcase what can happen with a great partnership.” Along with his passion for great food and beer, Brian loves seeing his staff of all ages grow as people. His priority is to build a culture where his staff feel supported. His venues also showcase the work of local musicians, and host workshops and events. Brian feels that Bendigo Bank is a great match for his approach. “They’ve got great culture, which aligns with our culture as a business.”

With two hospitality successes under his belt, what’s next for Brian and his team? There just might be a new project brewing. And again, Bendigo Bank will be there to support them.

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