Swannie's Southport: Coronavirus fear shuts bar and restaurant

Teary manager explains why the Gold Coast bar and restaurant suddenly closed.

A Gold Coast business has suddenly closed amid the growing coronavirus outbreak.

Swannie’s Bar and Restaurant in Southport, known for its crafty cocktails, will be closed indefinitely – effective immediately.

Swannie’s venue manager Margret Richards told the Bulletin the coronavirus pandemic was the reason behind the closure, saying there has been “significant drop in cliental” over the last two weeks.

Ms Richards assured people there were plans to re-open the venue.

“Coronavirus was having a significant impact on the business,” Ms Richards, said holding back tears.

“We decided to call it quits now before it got worse.

“We previously had three to four buses of Asian tourists each week.

“It has been a really hard time over the last fortnight. Australia Fair has been so quiet too.

“Everyone is just so frightened. I am frightened how contagious it is.

“We have taken a lot of precautions.

“We were sanitising everything but it was not enough to draw in customers.
“The business is not just impacted by the virus but livelihoods too.”

Ms Richards said Friday March 6, was their last night of trading.

“We had a lot of regular clients that night but it was bittersweet,” she said.

“It was a great and happy night but it was the last.

“Customers did not know we were shutting.”

She said the closure of Swannie’s would only be temporary and owners planned to fully re-open when “everything settles down”.

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