The owner of Bel & Brio, Mark Richerdson, living luxe Bondi life after links to reopening of iconic nightclub Arq are confirmed

Mark Richerdson’s restaurant closed owing $1.8m rent. Now he’s renting a $4000 a week Bondi apartment as former staff and suppliers say they still haven’t been paid.

Mark Richerdson, left, and the luxe outlook from his rented Notts Ave, Bondi apartment, top right. His restaurant, Bel & Brio, bottom right, closed after failure to pay rent. Pictures: Supplied

The embattled owner of Barangaroo restaurant Bel and Brio is renting a $4000 a week, waterfront apartment in Bondi while staff and suppliers at his former restaurant claim they haven’t been paid.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Mark Richerdson, the former owner of luxe Italian restaurant Bel & Brio who dramatically had its doors locked by Lendlease locked after failing to pay $1.8m in rent, is behind business Kings Experiences.

Richerdson started the entertainment company with a former Bel & Brio staffer, Jake Humpfries. The registered business address of that company is an apartment on the prestigious Notts. Ave Bondi.

It is not suggested Mr Humpfries is involved in the problems plaguing Bel & Brio.

Mark Richerdson is the owner of the now-closed Bel & Brio.

The two-bedroom apartment, with stunning views of Sydney‘s famous beach, has been rented by Kings Experiences. It was listed for rent at $4000 a week.

The apartment is on the same street as the famous Icebergs surf club and restaurant and model Lara Worthington, nee Bingle, used to live in a similar apartment.

This comes as former employees and suppliers of Bel & Brio have contacted The Daily Telegraph and complained of missed payments and unpaid superannuation from the restaurant.

At the time of the closure of Bel & Brio, Richerdson said work from home culture as well as high rent rates made his business untenable and he’d lost $11m.

Bel & Brio was locked by Lendlease over failure to pay rent. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The lush Bondi apartment listed as the residence of business for one of Mark Richerdson's business. Picture: Supplied

Richerdson said he would find other business opportunities but not in hospitality.

“It’s called life. You win some, you lose some. But I will not get into the restaurant game again,” he said.

Despite this, rumours have swirled in hospitality circles that Richerdson had been connected and was an investor linked to the reopening of iconic gay nightclub Arq.

However The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Richerdson’s company, Kings Experiences, is providing entertainment at the venue.

Two years after closing its doors, the Oxford Street institution frequented by Lady Gaga is set to reopen in mid December.

The site of the iconic ARQ Nightclub in Darlinghurst.

Lady GAGA leaves ARQ nightclub. Pics Bill Hearne

The club is owned by businessman Shadd Danesi, who opened it in 1999. Last year, he put the site up for sale at $50 million, but has since taken it off the market and after an extensive renovation, plans to reopen in mid December.

In a statement given exclusively to The Daily Telegraph, lawyers confirmed Shadd Danesi and his company, Kehoe Pty Ltd, is the sole owner, licensee and sole director of business operations of Arq.

“As a separate entity, Mark has been involved with Kings Experiences, which will only provide entertainment acts to ARQ,” it read.

ARQ Nightclub in Darlinghurst will reopen in December.

“Arq remains under the sole management of Mr Danesi who has successfully operated the club for over 20 years.”

Meanwhile, news.com.au reported a Facebook post about bar jobs at Arq in a hospitality job forum seeking staff at Arq was removed after it was flooded with comments from former Bel & Brio staff warning applicants to not apply.

However the statement said the initial job advertisements were posted by Kings Experience to commence recruitment prior to Arq Sydney publicly announcing it was reopening.

“Kings Experience inadvertently continued to run ads and provide communication however Kings Experience has ceased posting advertisements,” the statement said.

“They are no longer involved with the recruitment process, overseen by Licensee, Shadd Danesi.

“All staff were intended to be employed by Arq Sydney, never Kings Experience. The Daily Telegraph understands that bar staff are not employed by Kings Experiences.”

Kings Experiences have themed shows, like Moulin Rouge or The Kings of The Circus, which people can book for their event. It’s understood Arq’s entertainment line-up will have a huge focus on entertainment and silk performers.

The Daily Telegraph has reached out to Richerdson for a comment.