Pink Monkey Kitchen and Bar apply for extended trading hours on weekends in Burleigh Heads
A popular Burleigh bar weekday hours have reduced from 1am to 11pm as the hotspot gets hotel approval, paving the way to extend busy weekend trading to 2am. Read why
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A central Burleigh bar - which cut trade two hours to 11pm mid-week - has a greenlight to operate as a “commercial hotel”, paving the way for 2am trading on Friday and Saturday nights.
Pink Monkey Kitchen and Bar has recently lodged an application for an extended liquor licence, for a trading window from 10am to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
It comes after Pink Monkey already received development approval on August 2 for a commercial hotel which enables it to trade until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.
Pink Monkey venue manager Haleigh Forster said as part of that approval process on July 27 council cut their trading hours from 1am to 11pm five nights a week during week days.
She believed extra opening hours on Friday and Saturday nights would help decrease “anti-social behaviour” in the area.
“It can only help having another hotel within 100 metres of Burleigh Hotel (who currently trade until 2am) with reducing anti-social behaviour by spreading people leaving other venues like the Burleigh Pavilion, into two places,” Ms Forster said.
“There will be double the security managing the same amount of people, helping congestion.”
The application letter - posted to Facebook - said anyone over 18 was able to file an objection if the extended hours were to affect them.
Residents shared mixed opinions about the application with some saying it would be a “nightmare” while others said “if you can’t handle it, then leave”.
“The noise already travels up to the whole of Ewart St and Hill Ave,” Tess Lindores said on Facebook.
“Could hear Saturday night until 12am. 2am would be a nightmare.”
Trent Northausen said he was “all for it”.
“I’m too old for that now, but I loved being in my 20s and partying,” he said.
“Last time I did go out in Burleigh I was shocked there was no place open after 12am. More hours equals more jobs.”
Brennan Kurtz said changes to operating hours were “needed” in the area.
“Come on community, get a grip on life,” he said. “Without development or change the so-called Gold Coast would not exist. Seriously if you cannot handle it then leave, go live under a rock.”
The letter outlined grounds for objections included:
- a. undue offence, annoyance, disturbance or inconvenience to persons who reside, work or do business in the locality concerned, or to persons in, or travelling to or from, an existing or proposed place of public: worship, hospital or school;
- b. harm from alcohol abuse and misuse and associated violence;
- c. an adverse effect on the health or safety of members of the public;
- d. an adverse effect on the amenity of the community.
Objections and submissions close on October 14.
It comes almost three years after an application to extend the hours of nearby Nightjar – a bar down an alley from Pink Monkey – to 2am.
That application was rejected in a unanimous vote by councillors who said they were concerned about crime and safety.
At the time, the former area councillor Daphne McDonald said: “It is a village centre, and the council are very firm on the closing”.
“Burleigh is different to other areas. I mean if people want to have the night-life, probably go to Surfers Paradise because Burleigh is not the place to do it.”
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