Gold Coast Burleigh beachfront site Oskars’ lease to end, new owners plan $6m relaunch

THE operators of Burleigh beachfront institution Oskars plan a send-off befitting its 39-year run — before the landlords start a $6m relaunch.

Oskars on Burleigh lease expires March 5 and this is an artist impression of what the beachfront building's Sydney-based owners Bob Magid and Ben May plan to turn it into - they plan a $6m revamp as a casual bar and restaurant operation to be renamed The Burleigh Pavilion.

THE operators of Burleigh beachfront institution Oskars plan a send-off befitting its 39-year run — before the landlords start a $6m relaunch.

Kieran and Melanie Daly, who have run Oskars on Burleigh as a restaurant and functions space for five years, must finish on March 5 when their lease at the stunning site expires.

At that point, the building’s Sydney-based co-owners Bob Magid and Ben May will start an overhaul, shifting it away from a fine-dining venue to a more casual eatery and bar.

The owners plan to rename it The Burleigh Pavilion and it will mark the end of an era after Oskars survived almost 40 years.

Oskars on Burleigh lease expires March 5 and this is an artist impression of what the beachfront building's Sydney-based owners Bob Magid and Ben May plan to turn it into - they plan a $6m revamp as a casual bar and restaurant operation to be renamed The Burleigh Pavilion.

It started in Surfers Paradise before relocating to Coolangatta and eventually the Burleigh beachfront site just over 20 years ago. It has hosted rock royalty including U2 and Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, actor John Cusack plus homegrown Chris Hemsworth and former Prime Minister John Howard.

Band U2 at Oskars restaurant, Burleigh Heads. (L-R) Larry Mullen Jnr, The Edge and Bono Nov 2006.

The Dalys took it over in 2012 from longtime operator Marty Kollrepp, and yesterday Mr Daly said they were disappointed not have to their lease renewed.

But they are planning multiple send-off parties for the Oskars venue including a big New Year’s Eve bash when they have promised to “clear out the cellar”.

“It is with a heavy heart that after 39 years of trading (over 20 years in our current location) that our landlords have made the decision not to renew Oskars’ lease,” the Dalys posted to Facebook recently.

The venue had about 30 staff who planned to stick with it until the finish, he said.

Oskars has hosted Keith Richards, John Cusack, Chris Hemsworth and as shown here (from left) the then Today show hosts Karl Stefanovic, Lisa Wilkinson and Richard Wilkins who had previously filmed their show from there.

Mr Daly said the venue still had 12 Christmas parties to host between now and the end of the year plus eight weddings before March. The couple would then travel for a few months before deciding their next move.

“It has been an iconic restaurant in an iconic location. There are few places like it across Australia that close to the water.”

Mr May said their refurbishment was scheduled to take five or six months and he hoped it would be reopen as The Burleigh Pavilion by August, next year.

Oskars on Burleigh lease expires March 5 and this is an artist’s impression of what the beachfront building's Sydney-based owners Bob Magid and Ben May plan to turn it into - they plan a $6m revamp as a casual bar and restaurant operation to be renamed The Burleigh Pavilion.

He bought the place with Mr Magid — who has substantial property interests in Sydney — a year ago intending to start their own venture.

“We are pretty keen to get in and have a crack,” Mr May said.

The pair have a 30-year Crown lease for the site and plan a 180-seat restaurant with a “casual, coastal dining and bar” atmosphere.

“It certainly won’t be up-market but a place you are happy to have a few drinks with friends on a Sunday afternoon.

“Oskars is an institution but we hope to give people something they will love just as much.”

Mr May’s background is hospitality with his current operations including the Manly Wharf Hotel, and a Mrs Sippy bar in Double Bay plus Mrs Sippy bar and pool club in Bali.