Revealed: New clubs to open on the Gold Coast, how city’s party precinct will be changed

A prominent festival organiser is gearing up to open a new nightclub on the Glitter Strip. Here’s how the city’s party precinct will be changed.

A PROMINENT festival organiser is gearing up to open up a new nightclub on the Gold Coast despite the whole sector being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Local promoter Mark James, who ran last year’s Circus Paradise and has been involved with popular music festivals Future Music and Summerfield Dayze, will be launching a venue on the Glitter Strip.

Mr James confirmed to the Bulletin the club will be called Arcade but he is tight-lipped about any other details.

“It’s a bit hush hush on the location at present,” he said.

Mark James. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Arcade is the new nightclub planned for the Gold Coast. Photo: Facebook

Teasers for Arcade have been posted on social media saying the venue will be “the alternative experience” and is “the dawn of a new era launching when the Coast is clear.”

But Mr James isn’t the only one who is planning to open a new venue when it’s safe to do so - despite the entire nightclub industry going into hibernation the past two months.

The Hallmark Group - which own clubs Retros and Asylum plus Irish bar Finn McCool’s all in Surfers Paradise - are still sitting tight to launch their latest venue Tane Night Club.

Hallmark marketing manager Tammy Wood confirmed Tane remained alive and was still being completed: “Tane will be launching, the construction for that is almost done”.

Venue manager Loui Marando with two performers Luiz Barravento and Jade Paige ahead of new nightclub Tane opening in Surfers Paradise. Photo: Supplied

“We are just waiting to do the big reveal.

“Retros won’t be until later (on in the year), depending on how large of numbers we can do with the restrictions, only because you really need that atmosphere in a club.”

The iconic Melbas on the Park, which had been operating on Surfers Paradise’s Cavill Avenue for 39 years but has now come to an end, will be relaunching as a new club with a new name.

The bar and club abruptly shut in early May, but sources told the Bulletin “nightclub identities” are planning to transform it into a “super venue”.

Nightclubs operators are expecting to be the last cab off the rank when it comes to being allowed to reopen as unprecedented coronavirus restrictions continue to ease.

Bar-restaurants are now able to open with 20 people per “area”.