Winarch Group announces acquisition of Wats On Events

Winarch Group has advised of the acquisition of Wats On Events to its growing portfolio of companies - a move which gives it access to festival bar management, licensing, pop up bars and brand activations, providing new opportunities to scale the business across Australia.

The completed acquisition will see all of Wats On Events’ full-time staff including General Manager Ben Morgan and its extensive network of casuals moving across with the sale while founder and Director Michael Watson will also stay on to ensure a smooth transition.

Watson founded what was then known as Wats On Tap in 2009 as a beverage business, catering to weddings, engagements and private functions. From there, he guided it to also become a festival and event bar management and brand activation event company, which became Wats On Events.

Wats On Events will now sit within Winarch Group’s recently unveiled Winarch Live, the Group’s comprehensive offering of venue, event, safety and management services. The Winarch Live division is spearheaded by Ewen Craig, and includes Cedar Mill Events and Secure Events and Assets (SEAA), as well as The Olive Tree Market and The Finders Keepers markets.

Watson noted “almost 16 years ago I sold my boat to fund the inception of this business, and I can’t believe how far it’s come.

“What began as a dry hire bar rental business, has grown and evolved into the well respected and thriving business it is today, and is something I am extremely proud of.”

Explaining that the group is driven by a vision to reshape the live entertainment and tourism landscape, Winarch Group founder and Director, Paul Lambess stated “every acquisition we make adds to the human experience, and strengthens our ability to deliver world-class venues, live music events, and lasting experiences that support and help local and regional economies to thrive.

“Wats On Events is a natural extension of that vision. It has carved out a unique position in the market, building a loyal following of customers and clients who genuinely love what it delivers. “Michael and the team have built an impressive company that is in demand, respected and ready for growth. Integrating Wats On Events into Winarch Live is an exciting next step - one that allows us to scale the business, reach new markets and further strengthen our event capabilities across our existing portfolio. This is exactly the kind of business we look for, one with strong foundations, a great team and the potential to grow even bigger.”

Lower image: Winarch Group Director Paul Lambess.