Surfers Paradise party scene has hip new bar restaurants on way

THE Surfers Paradise social scene is in the midst of a major revitalisation, with millions being poured into new venues — and revamps of old favourites.

Michael Russo and brother Vince spent $3m overhauling and relocating The Avenue nightclub and restaurant on Orchid Avenue — they have led a wave of hospitality investment into Surfers Paradise that is gathering pace. Photo: David Clark

THE Surfers Paradise marketing boss is warning hospitality operators to revamp or die as a megabucks flood of investment gives the social scene a refreshing facelift.

Central Surfers Paradise is benefiting from tens of millions worth of new watering holes and revamps of existing ones in a major transformation of the tourism precinct.

Artist impressions of new Surfers Paradise bar restaurant White Rhino Bar & Eats, now under construction from Cavill Mall to Circle on Cavill public square. It features a bar with waterfall feature, an estimated $3m build, upstairs mezzanine dining areas, greenery and indoor and outdoor flow. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

Despite a rash of recent venue closures in other city hubs, Surfers Paradise is thriving with new and improved options for patrons.

Among new hot spots coming soon are:

● White Rhino, a $3m two-level bar and restaurant being built at a huge Circle on Cavill site;

● Taboo Tiki, a new tropical themed, laneway bar with tapas down Orchid Avenue by Broadbeach’s Aloha co-owners Tim Glasson and Gavin McDougall;

Tim Glasson and Gavin McDougal, the boys behind a hip new bar — Taboo Tiki — going into central Surfers Paradise under Hollywood Showgirls. Picture Glenn Hampson

● The Tipsy Pig, a craft beer, whiskey and cocktail bar under construction on Orchid Avenue.

Surfers Paradise institution of 30-plus years the Avenue kicked off the resurgence with a $3m relocation in mid-2016 before more recent revamps of Bob Ell’s nightclub institution Melba’s and the Esplanade’s beachfront Sandbar.

Orchid Avenue success story House of Brews is getting a spruce up in November, with co-owner Sacha Kanaghines saying it was due three years after the launch.

AJ Warrall and Jessy Thomsen at House of Brews in Surfers Paradise — it is getting a major spruce up this coming November. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Kanaghines said he welcomed the new and revamped venues including those nearby, saying the “more the merrier”.

“I think Surfers is under-served. There are so many people coming in here now and not enough variety.

“The 1980s was all right but by the 1990s it was underdone and then in the 2000s Tedder Avenue and Broadbeach kicked off,” he said.

“Now people are coming back to Surfers Paradise. It had looked really tired and there were opportunities. It’s very doable in Surfers, not super expensive like Sydney or Melbourne.”

Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Mike Winlaw is thrilled with new investment in the tourism precinct hospitality scene with a flood of new and revamped venues: “It is raising the bar.” Photo: Steve Holland

Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Mike Winlaw said recent widespread reinvestment in hospitality was paying off with people returning to the precinct.

“It is raising the bar — and we need to raise the bar when we have competition right across southeast Queensland.

“It is about attracting tourism and visitation. If you are just operating the equivalent of a local pub then why would I go — because I can do that anywhere,” Mr Winlaw said.

“You need to raise the bar to an international standard and have experiences you can’t get elsewhere. If you are not doing it, you won’t survive,” Mr Winlaw said.

NEVER MISS A MINUTE WITH THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN APP

Entrepreneur Craig Duffy, the owner of Surfers Paradise strip club Hollywood Showgirls, plans opening a laneway craft beer, whiskey cocktail bar called the Tipsy Pig, one of many new or revamped venues in the Glitter Strip visitor hub. “It’s great to see after the Commonwealth Games flop which was very real.” Picture: John Gass

“If you just do a simple refurbishment and you’re changing the colour of the decor, it’s not going to cut it.”

Even Hollywood Showgirls strip club owner Craig Duffy is getting in on the small laneway bar action with his proposed Tipsy Pig, near Taboo Tiki.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR $3 A WEEK

Mr Duffy is fitting out a ground floor site where his office used to be underneath Hollywood and also leasing out nearby space for Taboo Tiki.

“I’ve been very forthcoming in assisting them with Taboo because while it’s great for me, it’s going to be great for Surfers Paradise.

“They also gave me some confidence to do The Tipsy Pig. I was going to lease out the space but they got me excited about doing my own concept.

“It’s great to see after the Commonwealth Games flop, which was very real,” Mr Duffy said.

SURFERS PARADISE 2.0

Milky Lane restaurant and Bar in Surfers Paradise — Scott Findlay Executive chef and Co owner with their June burger — the Peanut Butter and Jelly burger. Picture Mike Batterham

NEW

Steampunk: $1m new bar, Surfers Paradise Boulevard, March 2017.

Milky Lane: 2018 spin-off of Sydney burger bar, Cavill Ave (formerly Ultra Lounge).

One Cavill: New bar, top of Surfers Mall (formerly O’Malley’s), 2018.

Gilleys: New live music bar, Orchid Avenue, early 2018 (formerly Avenue).

Retro’s: Brisbane nightclub arrives in Orchid Avenue, late 2017 (formerly Bourbon Bar).

REVAMPS

House of Brews: Looming spruce up this November.

Beer Garden: Modernisation plan, new deck proposed.

Avenue: $3m fit-out and shift across Orchid Avenue, July, 2016.

Melbas: Six-figure refurb of Cavill Ave veteran, October, 2017.

Sandbar: Refurb of Esplanade beachfront bar, early 2017.

COMING

White Rhino: $3m bar-restaurant under construction, Circle on Cavill.

Taboo Tiki: Aloha duo’s new Orchid Avenue laneway bar.

Tipsy Pig: Entrepreneur Craig Duffy’s Orchid Avenue whisky, craft beer bar.