Howard Smith Wharves blamed for city restaurant closure

The owner of Pony Dining in Brisbane’s CBD has revealed the major factor behind the closure of the popular restaurant, and how its demise has caused a knock-on effect that has cost a Michelin-starred chef his job.

AFTER the shock closure of yet another Brisbane city restaurant, the owner of Pony Dining has sensationally blamed Howard Smith Wharves for crippling his award-winning establishment.

Nick Kyprianau said he was forced to shut Pony Dining in Eagle Street Pier after foot traffic – up to 70 per cent of his business – was decimated by the $110 million juggernaut development in nearby Boundary Street.

“The truth of the matter is that since Howard Smith opened a lot of corporate and walk-in traffic ceased,” Mr Kyprianau said.

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Empty chairs and tables at Pony Dining. Picture: Peter Wallis

“We had an 180-seater venue which we had to cut in half, but even then we couldn’t fill it. Christmas should have been a great resource but traffic had stopped completely for us.”

The closure of Pony Dining has also come at a cost to Michelin-starred chef Alan Wise, who until a week ago was head chef at Mr Kyprianau’s other Brisbane restaurant Beaux Rumble, in New Farm.

Former Pony Dining head chef Chris Mann has replaced Alan Wise at Beaux Rumble. Pic Claudia Baxter.

Wise, who came from some of the finest kitchens in New York and Europe to open Beaux Rumble just two months ago, has been replaced by Pony Dining’s Chris Mann.

“I had to be loyal to the people who’d been with me at Pony, and Chris had been with us for nearly five years,” Mr Kyprianau said.

“Plus Chris is a local guy and Brisbane diners love local. He moved across to Beaux Rumble on January 2 and will open it with his menu on Wednesday.”

Michelin-star chef Alan Wise opened Beaux Rumble in Ada Lane, New Farm, in November 2019 but has now moved on to “other projects”. Pic Peter Wallis.

Wise has stated only that he has moved on to “other projects” but The Courier-Mail understands he will be returning to his home state of Victoria.

Mr Kyprianau said the $2.1 billion redevelopment of Eagle Street Pier, brought forward to next year, also contributed to his decision to close Pony Dining.