What inspired you to open a venue on the Gold Coast?
I always liked the concept of a restaurant that turned into a bar, like Bimbo Deluxe in Fitzroy. I always thought the coast needed something like that where you could go for dinner, a few drinks and be home at midnight. Then it was just a matter of waiting for the right spot to come up. Transylvania, the Italian restaurant next door to Barchino, was closing and the bike shop was leaving so all of a sudden there was this amazing space. It was the perfect scenario for what I wanted to do.

What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t hold back. Go with what you think is right and push through the hurdles, because there will always be hurdles.

As owner of three of the coast’s most popular venues, you’ve already achieved so much. What do you consider to be your greatest career highlight so far?
Nobbys Arc, because I created something out of nothing.

Tell us about the perks – do you get to personally select the craft beers that are on rotation at Bine?
Honestly I have more samples than I can drink! Beyond beer samples, there are some pretty amazing perks, the best one was an all-expenses-paid trip to Argentina for ten days with Yalumba.

Surely it isn’t all free beer and fun times, what have been some of your biggest challenges?
The main challenges are the local neighbourhood. While a lot of people do like the changes in Nobbys, there are of course some people that don’t. We always do whatever we can to minimise the impact on the community and I’m actively involved in meetings with local councillors, MPs, neighbourhood watch programs as well as various liquor authorities to work through any issues.

Do you have a favourite restaurant, or is that like asking you to choose your favourite child?
A few years ago I would have said Nobbys Arc, but if I was going to have a drink with my mates now I’d go to Bine. I’m a little bit older and it’s easier to talk.

There seems to be some renewed excitement on the coast with new restaurants and bars popping up. What are your thoughts on the Gold Coast culinary scene at the moment?
It’s brilliant, I love it! I was at Etsu last week. There’s some great places around now including Bonita Bonita and Ze Pickle. I hope the council introduce a small bar licence so that new places can continue to pop up. That’s a major hindrance at the moment.

Where was the last place you dined out, that wasn’t one of yours?
I went to Finders Keepers on Tuesday night.

Any exciting plans in the pipeline?
No, not just yet. I’m just going to take a breather for a minute and get through the Christmas period. I might look at something mid next year.

How do you like to spend your weekend?
I love to spend my weekends with my daughter. I also like to go out on my jetski or to a local pub.

How do you unwind?
A couple of beers after work and basically anything to do with water always helps me to unwind.

Only a Gold Coast local would know… the new little places to go and eat on the coast. The real secrets are between Broadbeach and Burleigh.

FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up… Grocer & Grind.
Relax… the beach or if I have a whole day off, Byron Bay.
Indulge… Queenstown in New Zealand.
Be inspired… Out on the water.