After 14 years Darwin’s Deck Bar will close in June

After 14 years, a popular Darwin pub is preparing to close its doors next month.

Darwin’s Deck Bar will close next month after 14 years, owner Jason Hanna has announced on social media.

Mr Hanna posted that while he was more used to announcing new venues opening, “sometimes all good things come to an end”.

“The Deck will have its final days mid June, and it’s time for someone or something else to take advantage of its beautiful location.”

Mr Hanna’s post reflected on the many great memories gathered over 14 years, and he thanked staff, customers, building management and the performers who played at the venue.

“There have been so many great memories, amazing people over the last 14 years that we wouldn’t know where to begin to start.”

Jason Hanna at Palmerston's Good Time Bar.

Mr Hanna didn’t identify a reason for pulling the pin in his social media post, nor did he mention the venue was broken into seven times over a 72-hour period over the Christmas period.

Deck Bar management told this publication the venue was repeatedly broken into over the three day break from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, with CCTV showing three separate groups raided the bar for booze.

Instead of smashing a front window and grabbing a few bottles, the thieves used tools to wedge open the back door, so the breach was “undetected” until Boxing Day morning.

But there was plenty of fun during the popular bar’s heyday, with the venue becoming the first Territory pub to import beer slushies into Darwin from Japan.

Mr Hanna is a legendary figure in Darwin’s hospitality scene, with almost four decades running a number of Top End establishments.

Aside from the Deck, his current portfolio includes Waterfront restaurant Chow, Lazy Susan’s in Cavenagh Street and Good Times in Palmerston.

Mr Hanna’s announcement comes two days after the owner of neighbouring Darwin venue Tim’s Surf and Turf posted on Facebook he had installed a security gate with a spiked top after 18 break-ins at the venue so far this year.