Adelaide queer bar My Lover Cindi struggling to stay open as costs rise and fewer people spend less money in CBD

One of Adelaide’s most adored LGBTIQ+ bars is calling on the community to “pay it forward”, as the rising cost of living threatens to shut it down for good.

An Adelaide bar is on the brink of closure, saying its electricity bills have doubled in a year and their insurance has risen to more than $42,000 as it fights to survive.

My Lover Cindi is among the SA hospitality businesses agreeing survival in today’s cost-of-living crisis is increasingly difficult, as people cut costs and stop going out as much.

The well known “queer utopia” in Pirie St is struggling – especially after a much quieter summer than usual – and is pleading with its patrons to “pay it forward”, buy drinks at the bar and give it another go.

Its electricity bills doubled from $2000 per quarter to over $4000 over the past 12 months amid a state-wide cost-of-living crisis hitting pubs, clubs and cafes.

Co-owner Rachel Hosking said the cost of stock – among other things – was having a significant effect on the business.

The club is in a race against time to deal with growing operational costs, with their public liability insurance also rising 18 per cent from $35,497 to $42,145.

“We have observed incremental increases in the price of wholesale alcohol, in line with the recent alcohol tax increase,” Ms Hosking said.

“PAYG wages have increased along with the cost of contracting external entertainment / independents. In order to pay artists ethically, our rates have increased.

My Lover Cindi owner Rachel Hosking inside her Pirie St bar. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“During our time of operation, changes to the hospitality award have come into place including casuals being entitled to superannuation.”

With increasing costs just to operate and people spending less at the bar, Ms Hosking said it was an incredibly hard time to survive in hospitality.

“Even when people are coming out, they are spending less – perhaps buying one drink per Fringe show whereas last year it would have been two,” she said.

“We see patrons who used to frequent the venue fortnightly now only attending once a month or once every few months.

“In Adelaide, hospitality operators generally rely on the busy summer season to get through the notoriously quieter winter months, but this year due to the cost of living and mortgage/rent increases late last year, summer did not provide that buffer.

“As independent operators with a small team, we do not have the cash flow to engage external expertise in areas that could benefit our business such as marketing, financial consulting or strategic planning. We are required to focus on immediate pressures over future planning, which is a critical barrier to financial success.”

My Lover Cindi in Pirie St. Picture: Facebook

Ms Hosking and her co-owner Kate Toone took to Facebook on Wednesday to let their “lovers and friends” know they were facing extreme venue challenges.

“We are taking a moment to be vulnerable,” they said in a post.

“Over the past few months, more than seven well-established CBD venues have closed, and we are close to sharing their fate.

“Cindi’s has been the backdrop to people’s coming out, coming in, finding themselves, finding love and finding community. It is this magic that has kept us going so far.

“We hope that giving you this insight into where we are at may mean that together we can turn things around.”

My Lover Cindi have taken to social media to express their dire situation. Picture: Facebook

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Buy presale tickets to events and shows

• Engage in social media: click “GOING” to Facebook events, re-share our Instagram posts, tell people about us, bring friends!

• Spend over the bar if you can. We have some of the most reasonable drink and entry prices in Adelaide, we also have free entry slots every week - check out our events for details to save your dollars for your drinks.

• Give us another go. Maybe you came on a quiet night or have been meaning to get to a particular event but haven’t yet managed - now is the time pals, we will see you on the dancefloor!

• If going out isn’t your thing at the moment but you want to contribute, consider paying it forward and buying someone else a drink via the button on our website.