Two decade ban handed out: Surfers War heating up

The battle amongst Gold Coast nightclubs on party strip Orchid Avenue has hit a new level with a lawyer noting: “Whether it would withstand a legal challenge is arguable.” Read the latest

First it was $3 drinks sparking war amongst Surfers Paradise nightclub operators. Now, a venue staffer claims they were banned by a rival operator by being red-flagged in the club-wide ID scanning system.

Surfers Paradise party strip Orchid Avenue - with the largest concentration of nightclubs on the Gold Coast - has exploded in recent months with competing operators warring over pricing.

A former employee of Fabric nightclub - which had been advertising the $3 drinks - claimed the venue staff were copping 26-year bans from rival operator Artesian Hospitality’s neighbouring nightclub The Bedroom.

The ex-Fabric staffer claimed the ban also showed up on multiple venue ID scanners in Surfers Paradise.

“It’s all Artesian clubs. It will also come up everywhere else so if I try and get into the [Burleigh] Pavillion, (Surfers venues) Lost Kingdom, Asylum, Retros, any venue can deny me entry for having that ban on me.

“Anywhere that scans [IDs] can deny me entry,” they said.

“[Bedroom] are abusing the system that is meant to be keeping everyone safe on the streets,” they claimed.

Bonnie Pickering, Florencia Carvajal, Dean Clarke, Sofia Lama, Emma Jakobson and Dion Bello at the Bedroom Nightclub Surfers Paradise for the return of infamous ladies night and Badboys Australia entertainment. Picture, Portia Large.

“Other people think it’s so fun to work in a club but you get all this drama, you get banned when you’re not meant to be.

“It’s hard to explain but it’s not about the patrons at this point, no one cares about their safety, they care who’s winning,” they said.

The then-Palaszczuk Government introduced compulsory ID scanning to get into entertainment precinct venues after dark to combat alcohol related violence. It created a statewide system where venues and police could red-flag troublesome patrons, who were then unable to enter entertainment precinct venues Queensland wide.

When contacted by the Bulletin in regard to the Fabric staffer’s claims of alleged club-wide bans, Artesian Hospitality said in a statement it was not uncommon for bans to be in place on individuals.

“Restricting entry could be appropriate for a number of reasons, including staff of other venues who contravene certain rules.

A 26-year-ban handed out to an employee of a competing nightclub. Pictuire: Supplied

“For example, promotion inside each other’s venues, causing issues or generally behaving in a way that is contrary to venue best practice,” the statement said.

“It’s not a blanket rule, it is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

“The ban in question has been lifted, but that’s not to say there won’t be measures taken in future to ensure best practice,” the Artesian Hospitality statement said.

Jonathan Nyst from Nyst Legal said the ban described by the Fabric staff was “somewhat unusual”.

“Whether it would withstand a legal challenge is arguable.

“In Queensland, proprietors of licenced premises are entitled to refuse entry to individuals for a range of reasons, such as where persons are unduly intoxicated, disorderly, inappropriately attired, and arguably even for legitimate commercial purposes, provided the reasons are not discriminatory and arbitrary,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, which presides over the Office for Liquor and Game Regulation (OLGR) would not provide specific comment on the ban.

An uproar amongst operators was caused recently by Fabric advertising $3 basic spirit pours, normally $12. Competitors said it would send everyone broke and feared a rise in intoxication and trouble.

But sources at a recent OLGR meeting called to address the discounts said all operators agreed not to heavily discount.

OLGR said: “Under Queensland liquor laws, licensees cannot advertise free or discounted liquor or the sale price of liquor for consumption on premises.

“While we are unable to comment on complaints about specific venues, OLGR is aware that some venues on the Gold Coast have been advertising discounted drinks.

“We recognise that venues may use promotions to encourage and maintain patronage to help their businesses thrive, but venues must ensure these activities do not jeopardise the safety of patrons or disturb the amenity of the nearby area.

“Any promotion that could encourage people to drink more than they normally would – such as offering heavily discounted drinks – is a concern.”

Originally published as Two decade ban handed out: Surfers War heating up