Darwin’s iconic Globies bar has shut its doors

ICONIC Mitchell St nightspot Globies Sports Bar has closed its doors after more than 30 years in business

Adrian Walsh, long time manager of Globies after the iconic Darwin nightspot shut its doors. PIC GLENN CAMPBELL

ICONIC Mitchell St nightspot Globies Sports Bar has closed its doors after more than 30 years in business.

Venue co-owner Justin Coleman announced the sudden closure on Tuesday to the shock their loyal regulars in Darwin.

“We made the decision to close for a number of reasons but it was largely due to the huge downturn in backpackers and tourists in recent years,” he said.

“We’ve seen numbers fall by about 50 per cent, probably due to the backpacker tax, expensive airfares and the fact that Darwin is struggling to compete as a fun destination.”

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He said the government policy changes to liquor and gaming regulations have also made things difficult for them to stay profitable.

“We invested heavily in gaming so the changes caught us out — it was the final nail in the coffin,” Mr Coleman said.

“It put us in a hard spot where the bar’s business model just wasn’t working anymore.

“With the economy the way it is now businesses are already struggling as it is and being up to our ears in red tape doesn’t help the situation.

“There’s no denying Mitchell St is a shadow of what it once was. “I know many people business in town fighting the same fight we were so sadly I don’t think we’ll be the last to call it a day this year.”

Globies manager Adrian Walsh said the closure had meant the end of an era for long time staff like himself.

He said venue originally opened as Ivan’s Backpackers before it changed it’s name to Globetrotters and then Globies in more recent years.

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