Revealed: Another major Surfers Paradise venue operator change

When White Rhino was launched in Surfers Paradise six years ago it was heralded as a new era for the Glitter Strip bar-dining scene. Now changes are afoot.

Artist impressions of new Surfers Paradise bar restaurant White Rhino. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

A landmark Surfers Paradise hospitality venue - heralded when it launched as a bar and dining offering to rival the best in Sydney and Melbourne - has changed operators.

White Rhino Bar + Eats in the centre of Surfers on Cavill Avenue was launched in late 2018 by Glitter Strip nightclub giant Artesian Hospitality as its first foray into the dining scene.

Gold Coast bar and dining newcomer Sox Hospitality now has the venue listed as one of its two Gold Coast acquisitions on its website.

It is understood that the deal was finalised some months ago.

When it was launched in October 2018, White Rhino featured two hero rhino replicas, boasted 700-square metres of floor space, upstairs and downstairs dining, plus an alfresco area.

The venue features a bar with waterfall feature, an estimated $3m build, upstairs mezzanine dining areas, greenery and indoor and outdoor flow. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

Sox Hospitality also lists Broadbeach spot Mecca Bah as another of its acquisitions.

2024 has been a busy year of hospitality takeovers with Gold Coast and Brisbane hospitality giant Hallmark selling a swathe of venues to Australian Venue Co (AVC). AVC is another major player which owns and operates over 200 venues across the country.

It was announced in September that AVC had acquired the leaseholds of ten Hallmark venues including The Cavill Hotel, Finn McCool’s, Sandbar and Retro’s among others.

Artesian Hospitality and Sox Hospitality have been contacted for comment.