A once-popular cocktail bar on Melbourne’s iconic Chapel Street has closed its doors for good after it went bust owing more than $800,000 to creditors.
Morris Jones, founded by restaurateur Hayden Burbank, officially entered insolvency on June 26 with Justin Howlett of SMB Advisory appointed as administrator.
Morris Jones had announced its closure in March, calling the decision ‘heartbreaking.’
‘The hospitality industry is facing unprecedented challenges and it has become incredibly difficult to sustain business in this current climate,’ the statement read.
‘We are all deeply saddened by this situation. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal customers for their love and support over the journey.’
Burbank, who rose to prominence for both his hospitality ventures and his public controversies, stepped back from daily operations in November 2021, resigning as a director of Bambou Restaurant Pty Ltd, the company behind the venue.
His mother, Antoinette Burbank, is listed as the current director, while Hayden remains the sole shareholder.
The collapse follows a string of challenges for Burbank, who in 2021 was given a suspended six-month jail sentence in Western after faking documents to illegally travel to Perth during a Covid lockdown to watch the AFL Grand Final.
Burbank is also known for his relationship with Married At First Sight star Belinda Vickers. The couple announced their engagement in February 2024.
Their relationship blossomed after he spent 90 days behind bars at WA’s maximum-security Hakea prison, which earned him the jailhouse nickname of ‘border breacher’.
Hayden described his experience at one of ‘s toughest jails as ‘the ultimate game of Survivor’.
‘You have to form alliances and not do anything stupid and get through each day by day,’ he told the Saturday Herald Sun in March 2022.
‘They are the longest days of your life. I’m not built for jail. Nobody is built for jail.’
Hayden added he shared a cell with one of the prison’s top dogs, a bikie, who would wake him up each morning and taunt: ‘Border breacher, border breacher’.
The restaurateur hosted a farewell party at the closed-down venue.
Financial records reveal the company owes $62,589 to the n Tax Office (ATO) and $8,681 in WorkCover liabilities.
Several suppliers are also out of pocket, including Cambridge Cellars ($9,992), MRC Builders ($160,458), Hosp Management ($16,251), Moorabbin Marble & Granite ($15,675), Saunders Events ($15,739), and Kresta Blinds ($8,528).
In addition to suppliers, several private investors are listed among the creditors.
These include Andrew Murphy, owed $58,400, Brad Putzier, owed $60,000, and Daniel Barlow, owed $69,600.
Despite Burbank taking a step back from day-to-day operations in 2021, he is listed as the only employee owed money from the company, with claims totalling $59,711 in unpaid wages and $30,289 in long service leave.
The collapse follows a number of other Melbourne venues including Asian fusion restaurants Kekou and Klae.
The venues in the inner-city suburb of Richmond entered liquidation earlier this year.
The businesses had debts exceeding $1.3million, including an estimated $50,000 in unclaimed vouchers and $400,000 owed to the ATO.
Daily Mail has contacted Mr Burbank for comment.