A consortium hospitality identities have secured an iconic Valley building for a new venue

A consortium of Brisbane hospitality identities have secured a rooftop bar in a building with the operators leaning towards a Spanish theme.

A building with a shady past will become home to a new bar/nightclub as the Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

A consortium of Brisbane hospitality identities led by Trent Redman has secured a five-year lease with options on the first floor and rooftop at 648 Ann St.

Mr Redman, who is behind the Valley’s Kenjin restaurant and nightclub and the Ivy Blu Roof Top which opens on Friday in the Caxton St entertainment strip, and has taken over the former Elixir Rooftop Bar space.

It is understood the new venture will have a Spanish rooftop theme and be more dance focused on the first floor.

Next door to the Royal George Hotel, the three-level building once housed the Bellino Family’s infamous “Pinocchio’s” restaurant which was at the centre of the Fitzgerald Inquiry with its illegal casino a haunt for crims, crooked cops and gambling-loving businessmen.

There is even a bricked-up escape hole in the back courtyard.

The Elixir Rooftop bar at 648 Ann St, Fortude Valley.

C Property QLD’s Danilo Maruca, who struck the deal with the TPR Group, said he was appointed by the building’s owner — the Biedak Family — to find a new operator for the 459sq m space.

“Elixir was owned and operated by Biedak family since 2013 and they wanted to pursue other ventures and sought a new operator to breath life into the building,” he said.

Tony (Antonio) Bellino ion 1990 with the record he released titled "Shame and Scandal in the Family".

Mr Maruca said the ground floor that was occupied by X & Y bar for 10 years until the space was taken over last year by R & B focused Shades Nightlife.

“We had two very long term tenants in that building so we have seen a bit of a rebirth,” he said.

Mr Maruca said the hospitality sector was getting back on its feet.

“We didn’t see the heads roll because of the pandemic that we though we would,” Mr Maruca said.

“Things were very tough but what the pandemic did was force a lot of operators to operate leaner and as a result they came out of the other side running their business as they should have been two years ago.

“So they have been able to capitalise on that post pandemic resilience and that beverage sector in particular is very strong now.”