Coronavirus: Small Gold Coast bars start shutting doors

Bars across the Gold Coast have started to shut down due to coronavirus fears. Here are the latest venue closures.

BARS across the Gold Coast have started to close their doors due to coronavirus fears.

Yesterday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a new limit of 100 people in indoor spaces for non-essential gatherings.

Some Gold Coast nightclubs and venues - from Miami Marketta, Asylum Nightclub and Retros in Surfers Paradise as well as restaurants - told the Bulletin they would remain open and follow the restrictions but were adapting and ramping up hygiene to help halt the spread.

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Southport’s Vinnie’s Dive Bar will be closed until April 1. Photo: Richard Gosling

But smaller venues which can hold about 100 patrons appear to be the ones which have fallen victim.

Vinnies Dive Bar in Southport announced yesterday they would shut their doors “(un)til at least April 1st”.

Alleyway bar Taboo Tiki in Surfers Paradise also announced their closure but they didn’t have a return date.

“We value the health of our staff and guests above all else and with this and the recent restrictions, we regret to inform you that due to the COVID-19 virus, Taboo Tiki will be shut until further notice,” a statement from Taboo Tiki posted on social media said.

Their sister venue. Aloha Bar and Dining in Broadbeach, will remain trading Thursday to Sunday from 6pm to 1pm.

“At Aloha, our capacity has always been 100. However due to our concerns we have now reduced that number to 60,” Aloha Bar & Dining posted on social media.

“We have also removed tables and spread the remaining tables out to reduce the risk of transmission.

“We have also implemented additional hygiene policies including sanitising tables after each guest’s use, tightly monitoring all food handling procedures, and daily temperature checks for all staff.”

Other venues staying open are ditching physical menus and using online ones only, avoiding cash payments, spacing out tables and getting fastidious with cleaning.