Yandina restaurant Spirit House could be facing losses up to $1 million after an alleged break in

Popular Sunshine Coast restaurant Spirit House could be facing a loss of $1 million after the venue was left “totally destroyed” during an alleged break in.

Spirit House's kitchen, wine cellar, cooking school and female toilets were damaged when a 43-year-old man allegedly broke into the venue early Monday morning. Spirit House co-owner Acland Brierty surveys the damaged kitchen.

The Sunshine Coast’s Spirit House restaurant could be facing a loss of $1m as the clean up begins on the “totally destroyed” Yandina venue.

Spirit House co-owner Acland Brierty said the kitchen, a wine cellar, the cooking school, a female toilet and several other appliances and structures had been left damaged following an alleged break in on Monday morning.

He estimated the total cost of the damage and loss of products could be around $300,000 to $400,000 and he said their insurance company were treating the claim as a “major event”

“They’re treating it as if a cyclone had gone through here, that’s their ranking of it, that’s the sort of damage we’re dealing with.”

Spirit House co-owner Acland Brierty said the damage and loss of income could cost the restaurant $1 million. Picture: Maddie Manwaring

Mr Brierty said hundreds of bookings had been postponed and the venue would be closed for at least six weeks as staff and contractors get the venue back on its feet.

He said they could lose at least $800,000 in revenue from bookings if the restaurant was closed for six weeks.

“That’s 10 (seatings) with 80 people a week, for six weeks, that’s 4000 to 5000 people (affected),” he said.

“Easily we could be closed six to eight weeks.

“We’re hoping six weeks but we’ll know more on Monday, there’s a lot of work to be done.”

He said the cooking school was expected to be up and running next week.

“The damage there wasn’t structural,” he said.

A huge clean up is underway at Spirit House following an alleged break in on Monday morning. Picture: Maddie Manwaring

Mr Brierty said the cooking school’s fridges had been ripped out, anything made of glass or electrical had been damaged and a fire extinguisher had been sprayed across the room.

“All the soft furnishing had to go, all the sofas had to go, all the stools, anything with a cushion had to go all the food in containers which couldn’t be sterilised, all the containers had to go, (with) hygiene and safety you just can’t be sure,” he said.

“Hats off to the insurance company and the people they use to make sure not only are we up and running quickly but safely.

“They’re the ones who told us to delay opening the cooking school by another week.

“ … the damage alone (is) probably $300,000 to $400,000, plus loss of income at $800,000 to $1 million.”

“The concern now, you’ve got 52 staff whose mortgages, families all depend on this business being up and running.”

Of Spirit House’s 52 staff members, Mr Brierty said 11 or 12 were casuals.

Spirit House has had their kitchen "totally destroyed" forcing the restaurant to close until October.

“Not just us but every hospitality business is struggling to find staff so we’re really pushing the case with the insurer that we need those guys as part of our claim as well.

“Insurance is covering all of that I believe,” he said.

Mr Brierty said the were basically “starting over” having to rebuild the kitchen and order new produce, containers and storage, appliances like fridges and airconditioners, electronics and furniture.

Mr Brierty said he hoped the alleged offender was “getting help.”

On Monday, Colin Mark Berry, 43, was charged with wilful damage and enter premises with intent over the alleged break in.

Spirit House's kitchen, wine cellar, cooking school and female toilets were damaged when a 43-year-old man allegedly broke into the venue early Monday morning. Picture: Maddie Manwaring

Mr Berry was due to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday but his solicitor Chelsea Emery said he had been admitted for mental health treatment at Greenslopes Private Hospital.

Police prosecutor Lee Allan said officers had collected a blood sample at the scene but it was unclear if a blood test had been carried out.

He said police were still confirming the amount of damage caused to the property but expected the matter would be an indictable offence.

Mr Berry was next due in court on October 1.

Originally published as Yandina restaurant Spirit House could be facing losses up to $1 million after an alleged break in