Inside new Surfers Paradise venue that will transform Gold Coast visitor hub

THE makeover of Surfers Paradise continues — and this new $3m up-market bar and dining operation is going to set a new benchmark.

Artist impressions of new Surfers Paradise bar restaurant White Rhino, 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

A SWANKY new $3 million, two-level bar and restaurant has started construction with backers promising it will help “transform” the hospitality scene in Surfers Paradise.

The venue, being built from scratch at a large prime site stretching from Cavill Mall to the Circle on Cavill square, boasts seating capacity of 220 and a waterfall bar feature.

Overall it will have room for potentially more than 500 patrons and the intention is to operate from breakfast throughout the day and into the night until about 1am.

White Rhino, with a mezzanine floor for more formal dining, is now under construction in central Surfers Paradise. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

The project is the brainchild of Artesian Hospitality Ltd director Matt Keegan, a former Sydney-based high-flyer overseeing Surfers Paradise nightclubs Sin City, Bedroom and Havana.

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Mr Keegan confirmed this week construction had started on the huge site which would be the group’s first foray into the dining scene.

The vision was for a large-scale open-air up-market bar and restaurant featuring a breakfast menu, decent bar snacks, tapas and more formal dining.

The space would eventually incorporate lots of trees and greenery, a staircase leading to a mezzanine floor with more private dining spaces. The ceilings measure 5.5 metres.

Artesian Hospitality which has nightclubs Sin City, Bedroom and Havana is venturing into the bar-restaurant scene with White Rhino in Surfers Paradise. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

“The whole thing is supposed to have an outdoor garden feel with a seamless transition from outside to inside,” Mr Keegan said.

“It’s going to be a bar with seriously good food. We’ll open for breakfast, lunch and trading all day through until 1am.”

Mr Keegan said venues in Surfers were starting to evolve and go more up-market with success at The Island bar one example.

More recently the long-running Beer Garden has signalled its intention for a major overhaul, also on Cavill Mall.

Former Sydney corporate executive turned Gold Coast-based Artesian Hospitality director Matt Keegan says White Rhino will be a bar with “seriously good food. We’ll open for breakfast, lunch and trading all day through until 1am”.

Mr Keegan didn’t want to share too many more details about White Rhino until it was formally launched, but he did reveal an award-winning internationally-regarded restaurateur has signed on to create the menu and run the dining operation.

White Rhino Bar & Eats promotional material seen by ATG says it is “coming soon” to Circle on Cavill and described it thus: “As unique as its name, there’s nothing quite like White Rhino.

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This is the view from the Circle on Cavill square entrance to White Rhino. It features a bar with a rock wall and waterfall feature, is an estimated $3m build, has upstairs mezzanine dining areas, greenery and indoor and outdoor flow. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

“Setting a new standard of service, and featuring a unique outdoor feel, it will be the hottest new venue for all things dining and entertainment on the Gold Coast.”

Back in December last year when Artesian opened Havana — then called Hennessey R & B nightclub on Orchid Avenue — Mr Keegan told ATG about his intention to expand further with more hospitality venues on the Glitter Strip.

At the time, he said he believed the Surfers dining and drinking scene was starting to evolve and flourish.

“We are looking at places with that bar-restaurant atmosphere. Surfers is always going to be hub for activity and tourist capital and we’re looking at how we can get ahead of the curve.”