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2016
15 March 2016
New custodians of Roth's Wine Bar's long legacy
Roth's Wine Bar is changing management, but new manager Jordan Rowlands won't be moving too quickly to modify much else.
'We don't need to change much here,' Mr Rowlands said.
'It's a pretty proven concept for nearly 100 years, so it's pretty much same-same but different.'
Mr Rowlands comes to Roth's Wine Bar after 15 years in the navy, having fast-tracked his exit from the armed forces on hearing that Roth's was for sale.
'As of today, I'm a civilian for the first time since high school,' he said on Monday.
The navy took Mr Rowlands to seven different locations during his service, but he always considered Mudgee home and went to Roth's every time he was back.
Mr Rowlands' brother and sister-in-law, Brent Rowlands and Dani Eldred, are the proprietors of Elton's Eating + Drinking, and called Mr Rowlands when Roth's went on the market.
Ms Eldred said every generation of locals went to Roth's when they came of age, and she had worked there with Mandy and Simon Gilbert when she was 18.
'It's a favourite of almost every drinking local,' said Brent Rowlands.
The couple purchased the business, and see it as quite distinct from Elton's, which specialises in food and craft beers while Roth's is the place for wine and music.
The three worked together in hospitality in Perth during Mr Rowlands' navy years, and Ms Eldred is confident he will make a great barman.
'He's welcoming and happy naturally, and he loves Mudgee more than anyone I know, I think,' she said.
Former owners of the business, Cate and Ian Simpson, are confident that Roth's is in safe hands.
'These guys know Mudgee, and know about the history of Roth's,' Mr Simpson said.
He said their youth, enthusiasm and experience would serve the bar well.
'It's a community location, people are so proud of Roth's; we've always felt we were just custodians,' Mr Simpson said.
The Simpsons bought the business around three years ago in a three-way partnership that eventually left them as sole owners.
With their long-term bar manager Peter Marshall leaving the business to move to Newcastle, the Simpsons felt it was the right time to offer Roth's Wine Bar for sale.
'I feel nostalgic about it,' Mr Simpson said. 'I don't feel sad, I feel excited about it.'
Some of the existing Roth's staff will stay on, supplemented by new staff and some of the Eltons team.
Mr Rowlands is already looking ahead to the Roth's centenary on January 1, 2023, so he definitely intends to be in the business for the long haul1 .
Gil 2