PUB SHUTS IN WAKE OF VIRUS DOWNTURN
PLANS have been unveiled for Southport’s newest pub on the old Gold Coast Hospital site as a separate popular CBD haunt abruptly shuts.
Swannie’s Bar in Southport, one of few venues to enjoy heavy Commonwealth Games trade, has closed indefinitely, effective from last Friday.
Swannie’s manager Margaret Richards said coronavirus impact prompted the closure, after a “significant drop in clientele” the past two weeks.
Ms Richards assured there were plans to re-open when “everything settles down”.
Ms Richards, holding back tears, said: “We decided to call it quits before it got worse. We previously had three to four buses of Asian tourists each week. It has been a really hard time over the last fortnight.”
Meanwhile, a new 1000sq m venue by Goodtime Pub Group is a key part of the $500 million Queen Street Village development.
Due to finish in May 2021, the pub will have a bistro, sports bar, dedicated gaming room and outdoor dining.
The first sod of the Queen Street Village project was turned in Southport this week.
The first stage also included a four-storey mall, Asian food court, fast-food eateries and 11-screen, 1000seat Dendy cinema complex.
Construction has also begun on Accor Group’s 17storey Mercure Hotel which will be targeted at the business market.
It will have 230 rooms, a rooftop bar and restaurant, and is expected to open late next year.
The old hospital site will ultimately feature seven towers from 16-25 storeys, a shopping centre and $120 million two-tower retirement facility.
The development is being built on the former site of the Gold Coast Hospital which closed in late 2013 and was demolished in 2015.