Dog’s Bar shuts amid rent dispute with landlord

Tickets for upcoming events at Dog’s Bar are being refunded following its shock closure. It comes as regulars vow to boycott new business at the St Kilda site.

Dog’s Bar has permanently closed.

A popular live music haunt has shut its doors permanently following a dispute with the “greedy” landlord of the St Kilda site.

And locals and music lovers have vowed to boycott the venue in future.

The Dog’s Bar has been a stalwart of Melbourne’s live music scene for more than 30 years but in a Facebook post last night owners confirmed the Acland St venue would be shut after the landlord refused to discount rent during the COVID-19 shutdown period.

The post has since been deleted but staff were on site today packing up.

The Leader understands the owners, who have run the bar since about 2015, have been given until Friday to clear out.

A post on The Dogs Bar Facebook page said refunds would be made to anyone who had bought tickets to upcoming events.

Scores of people have lashed out at the “rapacious landlord” on the page, with many planning to boycott the venue in the future.

“To the greedy landlords. What a shame. My favourite place in St Kilda,” Dáithí Ó HÍcí wrote.

Mindi Bakopanos wrote: “I won’t go back there, sorry to whoever takes it on but (you’re) not getting my support”.

“I reckon there’ll be a few punters who boycott. I’ll not be back, same as when the Oakleigh RSL shafted the Caravan Music Club a few years ago. I’m so angry about this situation,” she said.

“What an absolute shame. The best bar in Melbourne … thank you for your dedication to live music in St Kilda,” Chriscat Cat wrote.

Myliesha Ryder wrote: “Greed. Why couldn’t (the landlord) give (the management) a chance to get on top of things … now it will just sit empty”.

Dog’s Bar was the first venue to offer live music again after restrictions lifted and Port Phillip Council had worked hard to provide support to the business, including waiving footpath trading fees and setting up outdoor dining spaces.

And on Monday night it was almost full with people for the venue’s first indoor music gig since restrictions were relaxed on Sunday.

But the Leader understands the business had fallen behind in rent due to forced closures during the coronavirus pandemic.

A mediation session between the business owners and landlord yesterday failed to reach an agreement over the rent charges.

Dog’s Bar management has been contacted for comment.