Paradise Rum approved to expand Warana restaurant and bar

The recent approval for expansion plans at a popular Sunshine Coast distillery has left a sour taste as the council orders the business owners to cut trading hours.

Paradise Rum owner Chris Clyne said he was left “dumbfounded” at a council development condition reducing his restaurant and bar at the Warana distillety’s business hours. Picture: Aisling Brennan

The owner of a boutique distillery planning a $50,000 expansion has been “dumbfounded” by a recent council decision to cut its trading hours.

Paradise Rum has been approved for an expansion to its Warana distillery, which opened in 2021, but the Sunshine Coast Council decision left a sour taste.

One of the 14 conditions attached to the approval stated the restaurant and bar would operate from 11am to 11pm Fridays and Saturdays and 11am to 9pm Thursdays and Sundays - forcing the distillery to close an hour earlier three days a week.

Owner Chris Clyne - who recently opened a second Paradise Rum bar at Mooloolaba - said he didn’t understand why the council would restrict the business’s trading hours given they had traded until midnight most nights.

The salt in the wound, he said, was that small businesses were already struggling through difficult times.

Paradise Rum owner Chris Clyne enjoys the menu at his new distillery in Warana. Picture: Aisling Brennan

It is currently open from 11am until midnight Thursday to Saturday, and 11am until 6pm Sunday.

Following an attempt to negotiate the opening hours the council agreed to allow “one-off” extended trading hours for up to four nights a year.

Mr Clyne would need written council approval for this and have the permission of the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation, the notice said.

Paradise Rum barman Simon Jones serves up the tasting paddle at the Warana distillery. Picture: Aisling Brennan

Mr Clyne said the development would grow the size of the in-house bar and restaurant at Warana and create a new, 100 sqm outdoor beer garden.

“Warana for us was about creating a beautiful venue for functions and birthdays, and this allows us now to bring in bigger groups,” he said.

The business applied to expand the bar and restaurant at Warana with the material change of use application lodged in November, 2022.

The distillery creates a range of spirits including vodka, gin and a popular spiced rum. One-hour guided tours are also conducted at the site.

The floorplan for the expanded Paradise Rum bar and restaurant. Photo: Contributed

A Sunshine Coast Council spokeswoman said assessment of the change to the condition was carried out “against the relevant provisions of Council’s planning scheme, having regard to the relevant noise standards and amenity of nearby residents”.

Mr Clyne said work on the expansion would not affect the existing restaurant and bar, and would be complete within two weeks of starting.