Brisbane Venue Has Liquor Licence Suddenly Suspended "Without Any Breach"

Beloved Brisbane live music house the Beetle Bar has ceased operation after a sudden suspension of the venue's liquor licence at the weekend.

In a post made to the venue's Facebook page yesterday, operator/booker Robert Lee — who is not accused of any wrongdoing or impropriety — explained that he was informed just before 8pm on Friday night (8 July) that the Beetle Bar's liquor licence "had been suspended without any breach recorded", leading to an impromptu Police-led evacuation of the premises.

Lee expressed his bewilderment at the suspension in his post, explaining that there had been no accidental injuries or police incidents during his tenure at the venue.

"I did my best through OLGR compliance or just from helping anyone to the best of my ability to make sure everyone went home safe," he wrote.

Lee went on to direct "creditors, debtors or holders of any contracts" relating to the Beetle Bar to the solicitors of building owners Hump Backpackers Group, and pleading with fans to "not do anything illegal in reaction to any of this even if you think it's right".

"I have no intention of damaging anyone's business and neither should you," Lee wrote. "People are more important than paper.

"Feel free to share this. I have nothing to hide. I am broke but I'm not dead." 

Speaking to The Music today, Lee indicated that the present circumstances surrounding the suspension are legally too murky to elaborate upon, though he did indicate that the turn of events "wasn't the OLGR's fault", and that it was the result of "a commercial agreement that went south".

He was unable to comment further due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, but acknowledged the waves of support that have swelled around he and partner Ariana Urosevic in the wake of the licence suspension.

"All I can say is thank you for the support of the entire Australian music community," Lee said.

The Music also approached the OLGR for comment, but had not yet received its statement at the time of publication.

The Beetle Bar has had a long history of hosting live music events in Brisbane city; most recently, it was to host local heroes HITS on Friday night, while Saturday's planned Punkfest (featuring Glen & The Peanut Butter Men, The Wrath, The Scam and Punktilious) was ultimately relocated to the New Globe Theatre.

The venue had also recently announced follow-up Punkfest events for 23 July (ft. Anger In Motion, Post Life Disorder, Fat, Plan Of Attack and more) and 13 August (ft. Hard-Ons, JJ Speedball, Skinpin and Bullets), so keep an eye out for updated details in the near future.