Gold Coast business lobby urge council to back luxury beach bar

The Gold Coast city council are being urged to support plans for a beach-edge venue to help with the city’s COVID-19 recovery.

UPDATE

THE Gold Coast business lobby is calling on the city council to think outside the square and get behind beach-edge hospitality options to help with economic recovery.

Loose Moose, Koi, Glass and Roosevelt Lounge owner Pat Gennari – who recently launched new Asian fusion restaurant Maggie Choo – has dusted of a two-year old proposal for a three-year trial of a pop-up but luxury beachfront venue.

Gold Coast Bulletin exclusive artist impressions of plans for a high-end beach-edge bar lounge proposed by hospitality king Pat Gennari

It would sit on a 1600 square metre dunes site north of Kurrawa Surf Club but would need city council backing and State Government to the specially gazette the space.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said if there was a time to be thinking about innovative outside dining, it was now.

“One thing COVID has taught everyone is the need to think outside the square with outside dining and giving as much space as possible, I think now is the time to start looking at these ideas,” he said.

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Mr Hall said he hoped there would be a balanced and effective decision making by all parties involved regarding concerns of protecting and conserving the beach.

“The conventional ways of doing things, particularly around planning, is constantly being reviewed and we’ve seen that with the new council,” he said.

“Given the new appetite for people to have slightly different experiences, everything needs to be done in a consultative and balanced approach and a sustainable way.

“It’s important to encourage this innovative thinking and its definitely something we could get behind with support of council.”

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce President Martin Hall. Picture: Richard Gosling

Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan said he hoped to see the project move along.

“It’s another attraction that people can enjoy, its unique, and probably the only one in Australian,” he said.

“It’s something for people to do, it’s all about entertainment and quality products. We need more of that,” Mr Donovan said.

Mayor Tom Tate has thrown his support behind the concept, last week saying certain measures must be considered before any green light.

Mayor Tom Tate. Picture Glenn Hampson

“I envisage an up-market service which is not right in the heart of our busiest areas but creates a wonderful experience for the people wanting a quality experience,” he said.

EARLIER

A top hospitality operator is reigniting plans for a high-end beach-edge bar lounge to add to the Gold Coast visitor drawcard – and is lobbying council to get on board.

Pat Gennari – who owns multiple hospitality venues across the Gold Coast – said his proposal was for a three-year trial of a pop-up but luxury beachfront venue.

It would sit on a 1600 square metre dunes site north of Kurrawa Surf Club but would need city council backing and State Government approval.

Patrik Gennan, with GG’s Eatery co-owners Maria Tsirlina, Rosalind Williams and Christelle Langlet. He’s planning to open a high-end beach-edge bar. Picture Mike Batterham

In the Gennari Group’s official Project Drift proposal, the vision – which incorporates natural local flora – is for a “casual yet sophisticated outdoor hospitality experience linking precinct to beach that showcases the natural beauty of the Gold Coast through an ecologically inspired venue catering to both visitors and the local community”.

Gennari Group has updated environmentally friendly plans it floated two years ago and Mr Gennari said he believed the time was right as Australia started to open up travel internally.

Mr Gennari said he was looking for a minimum three-year trial – “to recoup money outlayed” – and if it was decided against in the end it would be easily packed up without a trace.

A second look inside the proposed venue.

It could be up and running within four to six months after a green light from authorities and he intended gifting five per cent of profits to council for oceanway enhancement and protection.

“But I’m getting frustrated. It’s a real opportunity to change up the Gold Coast and give even more reason for people from Melbourne and Sydney to come.”

Mr Gennari said he was a proven operator with successful venues: “And I’m will to spend my own money on this to show the Gold Coast what it needs.

“I guarantee we will get more people from Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney to come back to the Gold Coast especially given you can’t go to Bali for a couple of years.

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Broadbeach restaurant king Pat Gennari. Photo: Picture Glenn Hampson

“People these days are looking for those Instagrammable moments and places.”

Mr Gennari has outlined it to Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan who has previously said he was in favour of activating pockets of the coastline if done well.

Division 10’s Surfers Paradise councillor Darren Taylor said he supported the general concept: “I have got to the stage of starting to encourage it and look at it in more detail. I think it would be a good addition to the city.”

He called the Gennari Group proposal a “great concept on the face of it”.

Cr Taylor said progressing beach-edge venues would likely require a city-council backed tender process for operators to pitch for designated sites with State Government oversight.