Moseley Beach Club at Glenelg given four-year lease, creating 200 jobs

A beach club at Glenelg has been given approval to open for the next four summers, with its operators saying it means 200 jobs.

It made waves when it first opened but a popular beach bar at Glenelg has drawn a line in the sand on its future, getting the green light to operate for the next four years.

Moseley Beach Club will create up to 50 new jobs with its new lease, which will see it return to the beachfront near Glenelg jetty every summer until 2025.

The outdoor pop-up venue caused controversy when it launched in 2017, with some locals arguing a private business should not be allowed to trade on a public beach.

But the European-style bar, which returns to the Glenelg foreshore on November 26, has won over the public and Holdfast Bay Council, according to Luke Donaldson, operations director of owner-operator RD Jones Group.

The council has given the bar a four-year permit, meaning it no longer has to apply for one every year.

Michael Esterhuizen, Cara Rodgers, and Emily Jones at Glenelg beach, where the Moseley Beach Club has will operate for another four years. Picture: Matt Loxton

“In the past two years, we haven’t had much negative feedback at all. Most of it has been really positive, particularly when there hasn’t been a lot of exciting things to do in the state with the (Covid) restrictions,” he said.

“We have no intention of increasing the size of the club and we’re really respectful of the beach and all the open space. We just feel it gives people a different beach experience and we want to maintain that going forward.”

More than 50,000 people visited the beach club last season and it generated an estimated $5.8m for the local economy.

Mr Donaldson said he expected crowd numbers to be strong again this year as state borders open in time for the holidays.

Emily Jones and Michael Esterhuizen at Glenelg beach, where the Moseley Beach Club has secured another four years. Picture: Matt Loxton

“Local patrons have increased each year, particularly families … especially this last year, when no one has been able to go overseas and experience beach clubs in Europe,” he said.

This season’s beach club, which has a capacity of 300 people, will take on a new “Italian feel”, from the lounge-style booths to the Mediterranean fare and cocktails.

“We’re thrilled to be back for the long run, offering South Australians the opportunity to enjoy a beer on the beach in a relaxed and family-friendly, safe environment,” Mr Donaldson said.

Bookings are now open at themoseley.com.au