Ex-Love Nightlife brains Tony Rigas in Broadbeach cabaret club return

Glitter Strip nightclub supremo Tony Rigas is getting back into hospitality, saying he had planned some gap years but became bored.

Hospitality identity Tony Rigas and entertainment promoter Sue Porrett are teaming up for an ambitious project at the former East nightclub site in Broadbeach signing a 10-year lease for the property on the corner of Surf Parade and Victoria Ave. They plan turning it into a theatre cabaret and entertainment hub. Picture Glenn Hampson

GLITTER Strip nightclub supremo Tony Rigas is getting back into hospitality, saying he had planned some gap years but became bored.

The longtime fixture on the Gold Coast night scene has inked a 10-year lease for a two-storey tenancy previously occupied by East nightclub in Broadbeach, the Bulletin revealed this week.

Rigas has previously had a hand in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach nightspots including Shooters , Quest Lounge Bar , Mybar, Opium and The Oriental Whiskey .

Hospitality identity Tony Rigas and entertainment promoter Sue Porrett. Picture Glenn Hampson

EAST NIGHTCLUB: 10 YEARS OF MEMORIES

More recently his partner Louise Huxham had popular Broadbeach late-night haunt Love Nightlife, with Rigas acting as a consultant.

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But Huxham sold up in the middle of last year to newcomer Elliott Wicks who has kept it as Love.

“We were planning a couple of gap years and I was all for it,” Rigas says.

Then I became bored — it took about 10 months,” he added with a laugh.

EAST NIGHTLIFE: FROM HOTSPOT TO BUST

New Love Nightlife owner Elliott Wicks, with then nightclub manager Sanna Tammila. Mr Wicks bought the Broadbeach hotspot last year off Louise Huxham and partner-consultant Tony Rigas.

Now he is anything but bored, saying he is hugely excited about creating a new “next level” theatre cabaret nightspot with business partner and performance art promoter Sue Porrett.

“There is nowhere to go out,” Rigas says. “For me, you go see the occasional show but there is nowhere to go.

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“I stopped going out, friends stopped going out. A few venues opened, had their honeymoon period but that was it — there is no consistency.

“Broadbeach is always going to bounce back. The road works — without placing blame on people — took far too long and unfortunately sent the weaker people broke. But that also brings in new blood, and there are some exciting operators already going in,” he said.

“Good operators are negotiating good rents at the moment and coming back to Broadbeach.”