Club site owners sue for $300k

TWO well-known Gold Coast hospitality bosses are being sued for about $300,000 for allegedly not paying rent, court documents reveal.

Giuseppe (Joey) Lamattina and Ristorante Fellini owner Carlo Percuoco have been accused of failing to honour the lease deal for former nightspot Cocoon Lounge Bar and Dining in Surfers Paradise, a claim Lamattina denies.

Landlord Tiki Village International Ltd launched legal action against the pair in the Southport District Court last Friday.

Cocoon closed last month after three years of trading. Most of its contents was sold on Facebook.

The claim alleges Mr Lamattina’s company Old School Brother Pty Ltd owes $275,000, plus interest of 9.5 per cent, in outstanding rent, outgoings and electricity.

Mr Percuoco is being pursued because it is alleged he was the guarantor on the lease agreement signed in February 2015. Mr Lamattina, who sold Broadbeach venue Platinum Nightclub last year after more than a decade of ownership, denies owing the money.

Mr Percuoco is overseas and was unavailable for comment yesterday.

It is alleged Mr Lamattina and Mr Percuoco were notified of the lawsuit via email and letters to their homes on July 25.

However, when contacted by the Bulletin yesterday, Mr Lamattina denied any knowledge of the lawsuit.

He said he always paid rent, outgoings and electricity on time and in full, and that the figures quoted in the court documents were incorrect.

He also said his decision to close Cocoon was due to being unable to reach reasonable lease terms with the new owners of Tiki Village, who bought the site for $30 million December last year.

Mr Percuoco’s marketing company said yesterday that he “has very limited email access while overseas so we won’t be able to contact him in time” for this report.