High hope Sin will survive
Nightclub operator: ‘We were paying $10k a week rent but got locked out’ DIM CITY
THE operator locked out of famed nightclub SinCity has proof of rent paid to midMarch, claiming the landlord only alleged arrears when COVID-19 forced venue closures.
Melbourne-based landlord Bada Bing Holdings last week had SinCity’s locks changed to keep out operator Rockbah Bar, claiming six-figure rent arrears back to September.
But Artesian Hospitality partner Matt Keegan, whose Surfers venue stable includes SinCity, yesterday supplied
Yesterday’s Bulletin
the Bulletin bank statements showing Rockbah paid $10,000-a-week rent from December 12 to March 13. The 14 payments total $140,000.
Mr Keegan also claimed it was Bada Bing Holdings that suggested the $10,000 a week back in December – after Rockbah had approached it for a reduction. “The fact the landlord or its agents are now trying to dispute this is ridiculous. We paid the amount of $10,000 each week for three months. The landlord and its agent raised no issues with us paying $10,000 per week until the COVID epidemic started.
“The landlord has broken its agreement and taken action during COVID-19 when they thought we wouldn’t be in a position to respond or fight back,” Mr Keegan said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison shut pubs and clubs a month ago to halt the spread of coronavirus. His National Cabinet then unveiled a code of conduct for rent negotiations to guard against landlords terminating leases of operators struggling with the pandemic shutdown.
Landlord David Brandi’s Bada Bing Holdings, via Legacy Legal, yesterday acknowledged receipt of $10,000-a -week rent – or just over $40,000 a month – but said the lease required $60,964.84 a month and Bada Bing always requested that amount.
“There was never a rent reduction to $10,000. Simply because the Lessee decides it will start paying $10,000 and the agent accepts and receives such partial payments, does not indicate (Bada Bing) should now only be entitled to $10,000,” Legacy Legal claims.
“Sporadic $10,000 contributions towards the lease amount is by no means payment of the rent amount due.”
Bada Bing served Rockbah with a notice on April 7 giving it 14 days to remedy a lease breach of alleged arrears totalling $268,250.18, yesterday’s Bulletin revealed.
Rockbah, in response, disputed any arrears, said the deadline to pay was “unreasonable” and pointed out a new $10,000-a-week “deal” plus coronavirus impacts.
Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Mike Winlaw said he hoped the SinCity dispute was resolved because the nightclub scene was “significant” for the precinct entertainment offering: “It’s been such an iconic nightclub for years and very well managed by Tim Martin, the president of the Safe Night Precinct and Licensed Venues Association.
“We hope they could resolve this in some appropriate way for the sake of entertainment offerings in Surfers.”
Mr Keegan said it was “unlikely or impossible” SinCity would reopen in the premises it was locked out of. “Our strong hope is Sin can continue but it’s too early to say what that’d look like.”