Adelaide nightlife in critical condition as a slew of clubs close indefinitely

Nightlife? What life? Some of Adelaide’s biggest clubs have closed indefinitely under Covid restrictions, saying they’ve made trading impossible.

Adelaide’s nightlife has come to a halt as several of the city’s biggest venues close indefinitely while tough Covid restrictions remain in place.

Popular nightclubs Rocket Bar, Electric Circus, Sugar, Lion Arts Factory, Super California and Fat Controller have all shut their doors until further notice, with operators saying current trading conditions – including strict capacity limits and a dancing ban – make staying open “impossible”.

Paul Glen and Jake Phillips, co-owners of Crippen Place clubs Electric Circus and Mr Kim’s, and Hindley St’s Rocket Bar and Rooftop, said it was unclear when their venues would re-open, given the ongoing restrictions and an inconsistent road map for the future.

Mr Phillips said the struggling hospitality industry felt let down after being promised a “substantial” easing of restrictions from December 28 as a reward for South Australians getting the jab.

“The constant changing of the goalposts is bleeding confidence for SA and the hospitality industry and we feel this needs to stop in its extremities. Planning for openings, road map changes and planning towards the future … is nearly impossible,” he said.

“Operating, once again, seated at 25 per cent inside is something that most nightclubs, if not all of them, cannot attain a successful model from.”

Electric Circus owner Jake Phillips at the front of his nightclub in Adelaide. Picture: Tom Huntley

Nightclubs are currently limited to one person per 4sqm indoors, with no dancing or standing consumption. Face masks are mandatory unless eating or drinking.

Rundle St club Sugar had only reopened on December 1 after issues with public liability insurance forced it to close for months.

But on Thursday, the nightclub issued a statement saying it would shut until further notice.

Co-owner Driller Armstrong said the Covid-19 situation in Adelaide had made opening the venue impossible.

“No one is going out in sufficient numbers because of fear and even if they were, at 25 per cent capacity it would be difficult to break even,” he said.

Mr Armstrong also said that his workforce had been forced to isolate.

“Myself and virtually all of my crew have Covid-19 and are currently in isolation,” he said.

Popular live music hotel The Gov also announced on Thursday that it would only be opening on three nights and temporarily scrapping the live music it has become known for.

In an open letter to Premier Steven Marshall this week, Mr Phillips said the government should enforce a double vaccination mandate for entry into licensed venues.

“Every venue, especially hospitality venues, will just be happy to have their doors open. If you make the call, and make it widely known that it’s double vax or no entry, then we will enforce it,” he said.