Broadbeach restaurant Old Tom closes

ANOTHER acclaimed restaurant in the heart of Broadbeach has quietly closed its doors. The 80-seat fine dining venue only opened in November but this may not be the end.

Old Tom has quietly closed in Broadbeach

ANOTHER acclaimed restaurant in the heart of Broadbeach has quietly closed its doors.

Modern Australian restaurant and gin bar Old Tom Restaurant and Bar, in Shop 12 -15 Victoria Avenue, along the Broadbeach Mall, hosted its last service on Saturday night.

The 80-seat fine dining venue, opened in November last year, is the latest in a long list of Broadbeach venues that have closed in the past few months.

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Tim Glasson, who managed the restaurant on behalf of owner Gavin McDougal — Mr Glasson’s business partner in the nearby Aloha Bar in Main Place — confirmed Old Tom had closed its doors.

In an email to clients who had booked for an upcoming Just Desserts degustation event, Mr Glasson said the venue planned to reopen in “a couple of months”.

“We are planning to reopen in a couple of months in the same space with an exciting new concept. We will let you know when that happens, the email said.

“Apologies and thank you to those who have already written about the event. It’s an unfortunate turn of events and we are all very disappointed in the news.”

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Owner Gavin McDougal. Photo by Richard Gosling

Mr Glasson referred the Gold Coast Bulletin to Mr McDougal for further comment.

The Gold Coast Bulletin has reached out to Mr McDougal, who is currently in the US.

A post on the venue’s Facebook page also indicates the closure could be temporary.

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“We have some exciting news! Old Tom is temporarily closing his doors. But don’t despair, we’ll be back in a couple of months with a fresh new look,” the post says.

The Gold Coast Bulletin has been told the venue’s owners will consider rebranding and relaunching a new concept with a more accessible menu “when things are better”.

Wagyu with Davidson plums sunflower seeds and wagyu fat from Old Tom. Photo by Richard Gosling

While the restaurant was one of many in Broadbeach that experienced a downturn in trade during the Commonwealth Games, it is not believed to have been the deciding factor in the venue’s closure.

The recent closures of restaurants either side of Old Tom is believed to have impacted trade.

Old Tom had been preparing to host a Just Desserts evening with celebrated patissier Adriano Zumbo and its own protégé chef Cody McKavanagh on July 19.

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The evening included a five course dessert degustation menu with drink pairing, with $190 tickets for the event selling well.

McKavanagh, who studied under Matt Moran as an apprentice, had been at the helm of Old Tom’s kitchen since the start of the year.