Canberra Hospitality Sector Faces Crisis Amid Rising Costs and Closures

The hospitality sector in Canberra is experiencing a crisis marked by business closures, including Civic nightclub Shadows, Kingston bar and restaurant Queenies, European bistro Onzieme, and Wild Duck Fine Asian Cuisine. Venue operators cite crippling pressures, such as skyrocketing operational costs, intense competition from large hospitality groups, disruptive city construction, and limited parking access, as drivers of the downturn.

The closures and rising costs are creating a significant void for local artists and are putting pressure on the local economy. The situation has led to arguments that the ACT government should step in to ease the heavy burden on the sector.