Gold Coast boss of Broadbeach’s Koi says Commonwealth Games trade swell

MEET the bar restaurant venue managers who are an oasis of patronage and positivity amid a Commonwealth Games wasteland of hospitality grimness.

HE is the bar restaurant venue manager who is an oasis of patronage and positivity amid a wasteland of Commonwealth Games-related grimness on the Glitter Strip.

Meet Tom Sanders, the manager of Broadbeach hotspot Koi on Surf Parade.

After two nights taking the pulse of the Glitter Strip on the first few days of the Games, he is one of two hospitality operators found by the Bulletin with a grin on his face.

Finally, a venue boss with something good to say about trade - meet Koi manager Tom Sanders: “We’re going good, we’re open later, the days are getting busier. A lot of people are saying it’s a ghost town but it’s not a ghost town.” Picture Mike Batterham

“It’s always the way — there is always the calm before the storm and the storm is starting to arrive so it is good, it’s exciting for the Gold Coast,” he said on Friday night.

“We’re going good, we’re open later, the days are getting busier. A lot of people are saying it’s a ghost town but it’s not a ghost town,” he said, standing streetside out front of a full Koi restaurant.

The State Government has freely extended bar and restaurant liquor licences for the Games and Koi is benefiting.

It was 11.45pm and the kitchen was still open, almost an hour after it would normally shut — and people were still coming in and asking for menus.

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Mr Sanders added: “Normally we are only open until midnight but with all the people from Europe coming over, they need to have a good time and we need to make the Gold Coast memorable.” He was still giving out menus to walk up diners at 11.45pm on Friday. Picture: Mike Batterham

“This is good for this time of year. Normally we are only open until midnight but with all the people from Europe coming over, they need to have a good time and we need to make the Gold Coast memorable.”

Mr Sanders said it helped being near the 1200 international who have descended on the Broabeach media centres to cover the Games.

“A lot of the media are just finishing for the night now so we need to look after them.”

And while other operators on Surf Paradise complained about the opening night noise from a free concert being too loud, Mr Sanders’ take was: “No, it was great, it was like Bluesfest.”

Meanwhile in Southport at Swannies bar and restaurant, they are setting trade records.

The venue on pedestrianised Nerang Street is a short walk from the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre and many of the swimming spectators pass it on their way to and from the tram before and after the two daily pool sessions.

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Swannies Bar in Southport Co owner Simon King and his Day manager Margo Richards say thankfully, due to being on a thoroughfare between the aquatic centre and the tram, they are killing it day and night during the Commonwealth Games swimming sessions. Picture Mike Batterham

Swannies partner Simon King, who has recently joined the venue from Melba’s nightclub, said trade-wise so far the Games had “been sensational”.

“We have been fortunate because of our position. We were quiet up until Thursday,” he said.

“Now food has been solid all day long, it clears out a bit around 7pm when the swimming starts and then fills up after it finishes.

“We have been smashing it. We have been fortunate to be on a main thoroughfare.”

Swannies day manager Margaret Richards, who has been with the venue since it opened in mid-2016, said the days of the Games swimming sessions had been its busiest time ever.