Carlotta Closes: What’s Next for the Space?

Canberra, December 23, 2025 –

The Lucas Collective is exiting the Canberra dining scene with the sale of its Carlotta restaurant, while plans for a second venue have been scrapped.

• The Lucas Collective has sold the lease of its Carlotta restaurant at Scott’s Crossing to Hunter and Barrel.
• Plans to open a French bistro at the site of the former Botswana Butchery are no longer moving forward.
• Carlotta earned a GoodFood chef’s hat shortly after opening and retained it in 2025.

The Lucas Collective is closing its Canberra restaurant, carlotta, after selling the lease of the Scott’s Crossing venue to hunter and Barrel, the company announced. The decision comes as the collective found that “suitable opportunities to support a multi-venue model just didn’t eventuate,” according to Lucas Collective CEO Chris Lucas.

“While this marks the end of our time at the Scotts Crossing site, we are incredibly proud of what the Carlotta team achieved in Canberra,” Lucas said in a statement. “We continue to see Canberra as a city with great culinary potential and look forward to sharing more about the future of the Carlotta brand in due course.”

Did you know? – Carlotta received a prestigious GoodFood chef’s hat award shortly after opening in Canberra, a recognition it held through 2025, signifying high culinary standards.

The closure also means that Lucas’ plans to open a French bistro at the location of the short-lived Botswana Butchery will not proceed, according to the declaration.

Staff members have been assured that all entitlements will be finalized in compliance with legal requirements, and gift card holders have been contacted regarding refunds or transfers.

Lucas Collective will retain ownership of the carlotta brand and intends to open a new offering at the QIC-owned site in 2026.

Seagrass CEO Ravi Singh stated the company is “delighted” to take over the site and bring Hunter and barrel to Canberra. “We are known for our rustic character, flame-grilled steaks, barrel-aged spirits and relaxed hospitality, and we look forward to welcoming guests to the venue in the future,” Singh said.

pro tip – When a restaurant group exits a market, it’s often due to financial factors or difficulty finding qualified staff. This doesn’t always reflect the restaurant’s popularity.

during its time in Canberra, Carlotta quickly established itself as a prominent dining destination, earning a GoodFood chef’s hat within weeks of opening and maintaining the recognition in 2025.

• The Lucas Collective sold Carlotta to Hunter and Barrel due to challenges in expanding to a multi-venue model.
• Hunter and Barrel will bring its steakhouse concept to the Scott’s Crossing location.
• Lucas Collective plans to re-enter the Canberra market with a new Carlotta offering in 2026.

Explanation of Changes & Answers to Questions:

* Why: The Lucas Collective exited the Canberra dining scene because they couldn’t find “suitable opportunities to support a multi-venue model.” Essentially, they couldn’t make expansion viable.
* Who: The lucas collective (seller), Hunter and Barrel (buyer), Chris Lucas (Lucas Collective CEO), Ravi Singh (seagrass CEO), and Carlotta staff/customers are the key players