NOT QUITE LAST DRINKS
He’s been a Glitter Strip fixture at a Surfers Paradise bar for five years and was planning to try something new – then COVID-19 hit
GOLD Coast entrepreneur, hospitality guru and festival boss is cooped up indoors self-isolating. Cross, partner with
plus co-owner of Cross Promotions, returned from a short stay in Las Vegas on Wednesday and had to self quarantine. “I’m not doing much. I’m working but I’m in my own little corner. I’m just sitting around.” When asked if he’d go stir-crazy being locked up for two weeks, he says: “I’m only on day one. Call me in 10 days and see how I’m going.”
IT was almost last drinks for Glitter Strip hospitality stalwart Iain McKie – but then coronavirus hit and it has put the brakes on his big-city plans.
The founding manager of popular Surfers Paradise craft beer bar House of Brews tells ATG he had resigned last month after five years in the role, looking to pursue fresh frontiers.
He locked in an IT job with a firm in Melbourne.
At the time he resigned, news about coronavirus coming out of its epicentre in Wuhan, China, was in its infancy and hadn’t come close to being the disastrous global pandemic it is now.
“When I handed in my resignation I didn’t pay any attention to it at all. It was more of a personal decision and I was willing to throw myself out in the world and see what came up and this position just presented itself,” he said.
Since then his new gig has been affected by the widespread workplace shutdowns that have plagued the country and as for now his new role is on hold.
McKie, who was also a first-grade cricketer, says for now he is back pulling casual shifts at his favourite Glitter Strip bar House of Brews – but as new restrictions on non-essential indoor venues kick in, he acknowledges the future is unclear.
“I’ve bought a bunch of books, a bunch of games in preparation for a lot of time at home,” he said.
As for his almost 20 years in hospitality and stint at House of Brews, which was a groundbreaking arrival in Surfers with its outlandish cocktails, quirky menu and 30-plus boutique beers, he says: “I have had a great time but it was time to think about my health a little more and a new challenge. There is a lot of late nights.
“I like to think we did set a new tone and like any business that is successful, you are going to have others come too and try to repeat that success. We push hard to innovate at House of Brews.”