Rolling Rock to Aqua nightclub: $400k makeover on Noosa’s Hastings St

Water features imported from overseas serve as the centrepiece of a Noosa glitter strip nightclub after a $400,000 renovation turned the legendary Rolling Rock into a cocktail haven. See the before and afters.

From bubbling water walls to a cocktail menu of “old favourites”, the Noosa glitter strip has a new venue after a nightclub owner managed a $400,000 renovation of the legendary Rolling Rock.

Owner Ken Woods started trading as the Aqua Lounge and Nightclub a couple of weeks ago and has organised a VIP event for fellow Hastings St business owners so they could check out the new digs.

Mr Woods said he was “so proud” of the renovation that cost $50,000 more than what he predicted.

“When I look at it of a night, it’s almost perfect to what I wanted,” he said.

He said the water features, which were bubbling water encased in glass and mounted on the walls, took time and care to import.

“I knew from day one I wanted them,” Mr Woods said.

The Rolling Rock nightclub has become Aqua Lounge and Nightclub on Hastings St in Noosa Heads. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“The problem was they were in China and the language barrier almost destroyed me.”

The former Rolling Rock was a feature of Hastings St nightlife for more than 20 years and famously denied entry to members of the entourage of band U2 in the 1990s.

The $400,000 renovation includes made-over bar areas and a new dance floor Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Woods said the venue was attracting more Noosa locals and the demographic was slowly expanding from mostly young people to those of all ages.

The nightclub owner said the cocktail menu was “modern” with “fresh ingredients” and no cocktail was priced more than $20.

There were old favourites including mojitos and margaritas and the menu would change about every three months, he said.

Mr Woods said he was still looking for experienced servers and once he found enough he would start table service in the cocktail bar area.

Owner Ken Woods before the $400,000 renovation to the Rolling Rock nightclub. Picture: Letea Cavander

He said his “beautiful glasses” were swapped for plastic at midnight and the venue opened at 8pm.

“I’m really trying to concentrate on that after-dinner market,” Mr Woods said.

The owner said the music in the venue “has got to have lyrics, it’s got to have heart and it’s got to have soul” and DJs were still featured.

He also acknowledged the tradies and the builder who helped him renovate the space in about a month.

“It takes a lot of people to pull it all together,” Mr Woods said.

Originally published as Rolling Rock to Aqua nightclub: $400k makeover on Noosa’s Hastings St