ALL STOCKED UP AHEAD OF PARTY GAMES
Gold Coast nightclub bosses are buying up alcohol in bulk and storing it so partygoers don’t go dry during the Commonwealth Games
GLITTER Strip nightspot bosses are building up big booze stockpiles for the Commonwealth Games due to squeezed delivery windows and fears they will run out.
Venues have bulk-ordered in advance, with some having to rent out extra storage.
Love Nightlife owner Louise Huxham said her Broadbeach venue was one of lucky ones with ample storage on site. But she said squeezed delivery windows for stock during the Games were not suitable and costly to hire staff for.
“That is not going to work, we’re not going to have someone in the venue from midnight until 6am.
“What we are doing is overordering and getting more stock delivered now,” she said recently.
“We’re going to stockpile. We have to ramp it up.
“Let’s hope it is really busy and doesn’t scare the locals away.”
Ms Huxham said by the time the Games started tomorrow, they would have all the booze they needed on site but if they ran out she would happily work through the night to bring more in.
“If we run out of stock and need to reorder I will sit there myself from midnight until 6am because that would be amazing.”
The State Government has extended Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise 3am last drinks until 4am during the Games.
Artesian Hospitality director Matt Keegan said his Surfers Paradise venues — The Bedroom, Sin City and Hennessy — had all pre-ordered more than usual.
“We’ve done that to avoid delivery headaches — we know it’s going to be busy and we’re going to need extra. Plus we’re concerned about the suppliers running out of stock.”
House of Brews craft beer bar, the official base for Canada during the Games, have rented extra booze storage space — owner Sacha Kanaghines reckons it will be well worth it despite extra expense.
Manager Iain McKie said the Games lead up had proven costly, with delivery companies charging more, storage space needing to be rented, more staff rostered on plus extras on standby. But he said the venue was already attracting athletes and fans and hoped for a bumper Games.
“We have had to rent storage space because of the amount of stock we had to purchase in advance.”
He suggested a tax break should have been considered for Games business disruption and higher costs, saying they had to just absorb it: “We are in the public eye and if we bump our prices, we get our butts handed to us through social media. It’s a double-edged sword.”
We’ve done that to avoid delivery headaches — it’s going to be busy and we’re going to need extra.