Shammi Prasad’s controversial bar Memory Lane opens to mixed reviews
A controversial bar’s opening on the weekend has received mixed reviews with a local resident calling for the council to look into the venue’s practices.
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NEARBY residents are fuming about the new Broadbeach venue of Australia’s biggest social media prankster saying launch night fire cannons, exotic dancers and late live music is “unacceptable”.
Infamous for online stunts and with 1.4 million Instagram followers plus popular YouTube and Facebook feeds, Shammi Prasad launched his Broadbeach bar Memory Lane on Saturday.
The Surf Parade venue’s opening drew a large crowd and plenty of attention with patrons flocking to the bar to enjoying DJ sets, table top dancing and a controversial cocktail named the “Uncut Cocktail”. The drink, a play on his more uncensored Shammi Uncut page, is served with a line of white sherbet, all shown on the new business’s Instagram story.
The extravagant opening of the first bar of the social media sensation – who once switched off the Melbourne Cup in a packed Parkwood Tavern – left one local so unimpressed they wrote to the Bulletin to share their concern about the venue’s antics.
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“I’m not usually one to complain. I know we live in an extremely busy Broadbeach area, so we expect the usual noise from the local restaurants, drunks rolling out into the streets, punch ups and trouble makers, police sirens, car hoons etc. However, we have been confronted with something way worse and I can’t grasp how council has allowed this to happen,” the resident said.
“Full of crazy entertainment, fire cannons, exotic dancers, miniature ponies, DJs, well you get the picture. Great for Broadbeach to see a new thriving business however the restaurant/ bar it was described as? It is not.
“As a resident in the area we have had to come to terms with the unravelling social aspect along the restaurant strip of Surf Parade and the back lanes for quite some time. We chose to live here because we love the area so we understand the need to endure, however this has now gone to a new unacceptable level.”
The resident questioned the classification of the venue as a restaurant/bar, suggesting it is more like an outside nightclub and wanting to know how council had let it go ahead.
“The loud live music plus DJ, dancing on tables, concrete barriers, patrons screaming and car hooning does not a restaurant make,” the resident said.
“Or am I just getting old? All we know is he seems to have taken over the Surf Parade strip with his antics and the council should never have approved such a venue for this area.
“The amount of drunk people spilling into the street, bouncers and cars parked on the footpath, which we assumed to be illegal, seemed to be totally out of control and not one police patrol in sight to pull the chaos into line.
“There are leftover gas cylinders left on the footpath and bits of leftover timber, which in my opinion are a safety hazard, but somehow council has allowed it to be there.”
The resident went on to say the lunchtime opening didn’t finish until past 2am, leaving Broadbeach locals needing ear plugs to sleep.
“Come on Tom Tate! This venue needs to be scrutinised for what it represents, chaos and attracting Insta crazy followers into the area,” the resident said.
“I’m not against business thriving in the area however this is basically a licences rave venue and needs to looked at a little more closely for what it really is.”
Online reviews of the bar were varied.
“Great bar, great food – Shammi deserves reward for all the hard work he endured prior to this lifestyle,” Garry Parmeter said.
James: “Covid system allows every user to view the details of every person who has signed in. Told the manager and he said ‘just don’t look then’.”
Luci: “Needs better management and security, everyone was going to the ‘toilet’ and bring in friends when the line was waiting over an hour and wasn’t letting anyone in.”
Vive with Mi: “I am giving one star right away for having waited more than an hour in line for nothing … I spoke with the person in charge at the door who said we could get in if we consumed at least 2 bottles $350 each. I think it’s pretty unfair.
“It is not worth going there if you are a simple tourist in the city. Don’t waste your time.”
Reader’s on The Bulletin’s Facebook post about Memory Lane opening also weren’t scared to share their thoughts.
“I hope someone turns the power off on opening night! See if it’s funny for them,” Andrew said.
Bruce: “So what are some pranks that can be undertaken there? Rack up a big Bill and not pay? Come on Shammi, don’t take offence: it’s a prank after all!!”
On Sunday Memory Lane took to their social media to let customers know they’ll be back next week “bigger and better”.
“Overwhelmed with the turn out yesterday! The party was so epic, however we’ve decided to postpone opening again until next weekend,” the Instagram post said.
“The line up into the venue got so big that we’re working on the best solution to go bigger and better! Thanks so much for the amazing support.”
Originally published as Shammi Prasad’s controversial bar Memory Lane opens to mixed reviews
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