Jack & Jill’s Bar and Restaurant slugged with $36,000 bill from Adelaide City Council

The owner of a popular city bar and restaurant says he’d rather rip out an outdoor dining space than pay an “absurd” bill, even if that leaves his business in a “very sad state”.

Jack & Jill's Bar and Restaurant owner Tom McLean says he’s been slugged with a bill for more than $36,000 for a parklet outside his business. Picture Emma Brasier

The owner of a popular city bar and restaurant says he’d rather rip out an outdoor dining space than pay an “absurd” bill from a “greedy” council, even if that leaves his business in a “very sad state”.

Jack & Jill’s Bar and Restaurant owner Tom McLean, 41, said he’s been slugged with a bill for more than $36,000 for taking over three on-street carparks to create more outdoor dining space – known as a parklet – for his Pirie St eatery in December 2022.

The parklets were introduced by Adelaide City Council as a means to create dining space for customers, in spaces that were previously on-street carparks.

Parklets operate separately from a venue’s footpath dining space, and have their own fee structure.

Jack & Jill's Bar and Restaurant owner Tom McLean says he’s been billed more than $36,000 for his parklet on Pirie St. Picture Emma Brasier

During the pandemic, the council had a policy of not charging for outdoor dining space to support hospitality outlets. But it has since revised this.

Now, it’s charging business owners the amount the parking spaces would usually create in revenue – on top of a “parklet fee” – leaving Mr McLean $36,346 out of pocket for the time he’s been using the space.

“People love this space, I don’t want to see it go,” he said.

“It’s the first place people go to sit and the best thing to have out the front.”

But he said the fee structure was not made clear to him when he submitted his application in 2022 and now he’s willing to “set a standard” for other business owners.

He also said it was “inconsistent” that the council’s parklet fee was set at a different amount from its outdoor dining fee.

“When it came to the approval process (the council) told me there were no fees at that moment, but there may be fees introduced. And that was all right.

“I’m not against fees – and I wasn’t going to say no to a parklet.

“I’m just against the current fees they’re handing down.”

Mr McLean said the fee for his footpath dining permit was closer to $1500. He believed the parklet fee should be charged at the same amount.

“The loss of carpark revenue is one thing, but the parklet fee itself is almost $8000.

“I’m happy to pay a fee, but this is way above the cost of my outdoor dining permit.

“So my whole argument is that this is inconsistent.

“If you want carparks, keep the carparks – but they’re also big on greening the city.

“This is like a walking contradiction.”

Mr McLean said he wanted to make a deputation to the council to plead his case, but when it came to paying the bill he “won’t be doing it” – even at the expense of losing the area.

“I love this parklet but if I knew the fees were going to be so much, I wouldn’t have installed it

Parklets operate separately from a venue’s footpath dining space, and have their own fee structure. Picture: Emma Brasier

“It cost about $80,000 all up for the design, materials, painting, lights. It was huge. And I paid for that.

“So to charge these fees on top, it’s just a bit greedy. And it’s just not worth it for me.”

A council spokesman told the Sunday Mail there were 15 parklets operating in the city, with “all other operators paying”.

“We have been in discussion with Jack & Jill’s for some time about this matter. The current fees are also being discounted by council.

“Council’s fees for parklets and outdoor dining remain some of the cheapest in any council (and) parklets provide the operator with exclusive use premium space through on-street parking bays for commercial gain.”

The spokesman said it was “appropriate for council to remove parklets where businesses are not complying and not paying agreed rates”.

In a letter addressed to Mr McLean dated November 20, seen by the Sunday Mail, the council warned it considered its “only remaining option is to take enforcement action”.

“Council’s preference remains for the permit to be renewed … however, the permit has expired and the parklet installed by you now occupies the public realm unlawfully.”

The letter gave Mr McLean 14 days to either pay the fees or remove the parklet.

David Blumberg outside The Golden Wattle pub on Pirie St before the installation of a parklet for his business. Picture: Supplied

Mr McLean said a company had already come to the parklet to look at options to remove it, which he admitted would leave his business in a “very sad state”.

“It’s the greatest thing to have out the front of my business – it’s absolutely sensational.

“But I’ve got to set a standard.”

The Golden Wattle pub trades across the road from Jack & Jill’s and has also erected a parklet.

Co-owner David Blumberg, 34, said their fees had already been paid.

“It’s simple for us because we see value in it,” he said.

“So, it’s not a worry for us to pay for the space. Simple as that.”

Originally published as Jack & Jill’s Bar and Restaurant slugged with $36,000 bill from Adelaide City Council