Great Far Northern News
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A PORT Douglas favourite will cease as a nightclub after a significant renovation, leaving the town without a recognised late-night venue.
Partying into the wee hours at the Ironbar has come to an end after a change to its operational strategy and midnight closing time.
The pub temporarily shut last year after a number of alleged assaults in and around the venue and owner Shane Loughnan said it was time to move in a new direction.
“Habits have changed,” he said. “We just can’t handle the drama that we were getting after midnight.
“Over the last 10 years we have slowly but surely become the only place that ends up with all the trouble.
“And the reality is Port Douglas has changed, too, so we’re moving with the times.”
But fans of a boogie at the Far North institution can fret less, with live music still set to pump downstairs from 9pm to midnight.
The restaurant has undergone an impressive refurbishment, giving the tourist hot spot a genuine steakhouse feel.
“We wanted to change the landscape a little bit so people could come in, sit down and listen to some music while enjoying a delicious meal,” Mr Loughnan said.
“We’ll roll into live acts from 9.30pm and people can have a bit of a dance from 11pm to midnight.”
The upstairs area has become a permanent sports bar with betting and gaming facilities. The bar is already proving popular with a maximum capacity of 40 patrons.
The seaside town is enjoying an increase in visitors on the back of easing COVID-19 restrictions.
Cocktail bar Barbados reopened on Saturday for the first time since March 20, coinciding with the Queensland border opening, while new bar and eatery Maman had a launch party on Friday night.