The Alcott Lane Cove is part of the Norths Collective.
The Norths Collective are a group of registered clubs with its flagship club being the North Sydney Leagues Club.
The Alcott opened in July 2018, and now its future is unclear as The Norths Collective are taking steps to reclassify the Alcott’s freehold as non-core property. This provides the legal framework for Norths Collective to either lease out the premises or sell the premises to developers.
The Alcott members are being asked to vote on this reclassification at the Norths Collective upcoming Annual General Meeting to be held on Thursday 22 May 2025 at 7:00pm. The AGM will be held at Norths Leagues Club 12 Abbott Street, Cammeray.
If you are a member, you should have received a notice of the AGM, which was emailed to all members on 30th April 2025.
The Alcott’s History
The name ‘The Alcott’ means ‘old cottage’ and is a tribute to the heritage of the Alcott’s site, which had been built on the foundation of a sandstone cottage.
For over sixty years, the Alcott building was a registered club known as The Lane Cove Businessmen’s Club and then The Lane Cove Club. The Lane Cove Club was asset-rich but cash-poor, and a way to ensure a registered club on that site survived was to amalgamate with The Norths League Club in 2016. A condition of the amalgamation was that The Alcott trade as a registered club for three years. That period has expired.
Why Does the Norths Collective Want to Sell The Alcott?
Financial Performance Concerns
According to the AGM Agenda Papers, The Alcott is “currently incurring trading losses which adversely impact the financial performance of the Club.” Despite efforts over the past decade to “reduce losses and increase profitability and value of the premises,” there has been “limited progress” in these areas.
This year, to reduce costs, The Alcott’s food and beverage area stopped trading seven days a week and is now only open from Wednesday to Sunday. Last year and earlier this year, the Alcott sent members numerous offers of food and drink vouchers to increase patronage.
Capital Expenditure Requirements
While the Norths Collective has already “contributed significant capital resources to soft refurbishments and maintaining The Alcott Site,” it is projected that it “will need to commit significant capital resources to upgrading and maintaining The Alcott Site in future years without generating additional returns or directly improving member facilities and amenities.”
A substantial refit was undertaken when the Norths Collective took over The Alcott’s building. The Alcott, as we know it today, was designed by Pony Design Co, whose previous work includes The Fernery Mosman, The Greens North Sydney, and an acre eatery in Camperdown. It was not a cheap fit-out and took longer than expected to complete.
However, the refit was only cosmetic, and the structure and roof are still in the same condition as when The Alcott took over.
Competitive Market Environment
The Agenda papers noted that the Lane Cove hospitality market has become “increasingly competitive” since the completion of the amalgamation.
The agenda papers mention The Canopy development, which is owned by Lane Cove Council and located directly across from The Alcott Site. It incorporates “several retail outlets and restaurants in direct competition with The Alcott Lane Cove.” Additionally, “a number of local competitor hotels have completed several upgrades and provide strong competition in gaming, food, and beverage offerings.”
The AGM papers were released the same week Sayulita (located in The Canopy) announced its closure.
Luke Simmons is the outgoing CEO of the Norths Collective, and he told ITC that the cost of doing business has increased significantly, and The Alcott is one of the most capital-intensive sites behind Norths Leagues and Seagulls, without the profitability the others offer.
On 6th May 2025, it was announced that Luke has resigned and Tony Mathew has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective 3rd August 2025.
Luke stressed to ITC that the main reason for the sale was the extensive capital investment needed for the Alcott in the coming years. This capital investment would be at the expense of other clubs within the group. He mentioned that any money they made on the sale of The Alcott would reduce group debt, the associated finance costs and propel the group forward to commit resources to other facilities.
Impact on The Local Community
The Alcott has previously sponsored several sporting clubs and been a Lane Cove Public School partner. They also provide grants to local organisations through their Club Grants programme in conjunction with Lane Cove Council.
They also assisted in the Cove to raise money for drought-impacted communities like Gunnedah, where we held Trivia Nights, and The Alcott matched the amount raised.
Our photo below is from 2019 and shows Ty Younger from The Alcott Lane Cove and ITC when a cheque was presented to the Lane Cove Mayor Pam Palmer for over $ 10,000 to be distributed to the drought-impacted communities of Cobar and Gunnedah.
They also employ numerous Lane Cove locals, particularly university students, in their food and beverage section. Luke Simmons told ITC that all staff have the opportunity to work at other Norths Collective venues.
Winner Favourite Plate
In 2022 The Alcott Lane Cove won the North Western Metropolitan Perfect Plate award with their Sesame Grilled Lamb Rump.
The Perfect Plate Awards is the NSW club industry’s premier cooking competition. The Award showcases the incredible quality and variety of food at clubs, highlighting the many talented chefs in the industry and driving patrons into venues. Read more here.
Next Steps
Information Sessions
In addition to the AGM, members may attend information sessions at Norths Cammeray and via Video Conference at Seagulls Tweed Heads on the 8th and 15th May 2025 at 6 pm.
You can register your attendance by emailing [email protected]
AGM
The Alcott members are being asked to vote on this reclassification at the Norths Collective’s upcoming Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 7:00pm. The AGM will be held at Norths Leagues Club 12 Abbott Street, Cammeray.
View the Notice of Meeting here.
View the Financial Accounts here.
If The Alcott is Classified as Non-Core an Expression of Interest Will be Sent Out
Luke Simmons told ITC that if members approve, an expression of interest process will commence by June 2025. “Whilst we are incredibly proud of the contribution The Alcott has been able to make in Lane Cove for our membership community and employees over the past decade, this change will create ongoing opportunity for the Board to consider the best way forward on behalf of the entire Norths Collective, its 76,000 members and over 450 staff”
Business As Usual
Until the above steps have occurred, business will be as usual at The Alcott.
The Alcott is an ITC Business Supporter.
ITC BRINGS LOCAL NEWS EVERY DAY WITHOUT A PAY WALL – YOU CAN HELP US TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT
The link to support us is here.
Thank You
Thank you to the In the Cove team, our advertisers, roving reporters and everyone who stops our founder, Jacky Barker, on the street and tells her how much In the Cove has helped them learn more about where they live.
