Glenelg nightspots brace for extra competition from small bars in the region
GLENELG nightspots are bracing for small bars popping up at the Bay.
Some licenced eateries have hit back at Holdfast Bay Council for preparing a small bars policy with the aim to encourage the State Government to allow licences to be issued outside of the Adelaide CBD.
It followed Planning Minister John Rau’s decision in June to hold off on allowing small venue licences — which limit the number of patrons to 120 and operate at the same time as pubs and nightclubs — to be granted outside of the city for at least a year.
The Strand Cafe Restaurant owner Tus Papatolis said small bars had saturated the city and allowing them at Glenelg would destroy evening trade at venues such as his.
“A lot of these pop-ups might be vibrant, but they’ve got to be sustainable,” Mr Papatolis said.
“If they’re going to go near me it would be devastating.”
He said the council should include a cap on how many small bar licenses could be granted. “Ten years ago we had about 15 hairdressers doing a roaring trade, now we have about 30 and they’re just getting by,” he said.
Tasca Viva Restaurant Tapas Bar manager Martin Ardell said Glenelg was heading in the “right direction” and small bars could harm that trajectory.
“The council should do more for the existing businesses slogging it out rather than chasing this,” Mr Ardell said.
“I can see both sides of the story, but it would be a bit of a shame for existing traders.”
Sunset Marina Bar manager Kelly Hunter said the venue was taking inspiration from the small bar movement in the CBD.
“A lot of the bars down here could do with a bit of improvement and try a little harder to be more competitive,” Ms Hunter said.
The council decided at its November 10 meeting to collaborate with the Jetty Rd Mainstreet Committee on a small bars policy.
Committee chairman Mark Faulkner said small bars could attract more visitors to the Bay.
Source: Adelaide Now / Guardian Messenger, 25th November 2015
Originally published as: Glenelg nightspots brace for extra competition from small bars in the region
