New bars breath life into Southport CBD after dark
SOUTHPORT’S night-life scene is coming back to life with a new bar and three restaurants set to open in the CBD. City and business leaders said the suburb, where three years ago few traders were open past dark, was shaping as the “Broadbeach of the north” as it reaps the benefits of new infrastructure and millions of dollars of redevelopment.
New bar Swannie’s is due to open this week at 34 Nerang St, adding another live music venue to a growing list that includes, Not Tonight and Don Miguels.
Kubo’s Bar and Grill is also among a growing number of licensed restaurants to recently open their doors at Australia Fair West after a $15 million revamp.
Committee for Southport chairman John Howe said the rejuvenation of the CBD was keeping the area which was bustling during the day pumping at night.
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“The light rail is bringing a lot of people into Southport from other areas,” he said.
“There is a nice vibe happening with bars like Not Tonight and new ones about to open.”
Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow said three new restaurants were opening at Australia Fair West, one of which by the owners of Southport cafe 42Fifteen will have a wine bar.
Cr Crichlow said places such as Swannie’s would attract more people to the CBD.
“It will attract other people. It is like Not Tonight and that has been very successful,” she said.
“There is a lot of things happening in Southport.”
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Not Tonight co-owner Julian Luckhardt said “healthy competition” was good for the area. I say ramp it up, it gives people a destination other than Broadbeach to go to,” he said.
Mr Luckhardt said when his bar opened three years ago the Southport scene was very different, with very few places open late for people to go out for a meal or drink.
Good Bean at 32 Nerang St, opened early this year and serves Stone and Wood Pacific Ale for $5 a bottle. Owner Peter Taylor said the area needed more bars.
“People always ask, ‘where do we go for a drink?’ and I send them to Not Tonight but that is really it,” he said.
“You can see looking up the street there are eight vacant shops. We need establishments like Swannie’s to draw people back to the street.”
Mr Taylor said he could see the good times coming as the vacant shops were filled up by new businesses.
“Twelve months and this place will be buzzing.”
