Facing a massive increase in rental costs, Lantau Island restaurant and bar Mavericks has announced that it will close its doors next month, though owners are “keen” to find a “new home”.
Speaking to Coconuts HK, Mavericks’ head chef and partner Neil Tomes said the decision to shut the current site — announced last night on Facebook — came following an 80 percent rent hike for the beachside location, where the popular bar and restaurant first opened in 2014.
He added their tenure at the site was also complicated by a falling out between the landlord and the restaurant’s owners, stemming from a dispute over a catering contract.
Also adding to the financial strain, was the restaurant’s efforts to source ingredients more ethically from local farmers — a move made following Tomes’ decision to become a vegan, detailed in a recent SCMP story — which led to an increase in costs.
Tomes told Coconuts HK that — in a bid to stay at the Pui O site — the restaurant owners had suggested to enter into a subsidised, non-profit contract.
This, though, was rejected by the landlord, who asked them to vacate the premises within 30 days.
“It was a rent issue, but it was also a breaking down of mutual interests in doing the catering,” Tomes said, explaining the landlord had rejected an annual catering bid by them because of the increased costs.
https://www.facebook.com/maverickshk/photos/a.273572706151809.1073741831.267597340082679/954067451435661/?type=3&theater
Tomes said owners were “very keen on looking for a new home” and noted that there’d been “a bit of shock” at the news of the popular venue’s closure.
He said the location would be sorely missed.
“It’s just a great place to be isn’t it? You’re on the beach, you’re just doing any kind of chilled out comfort fun food, and you’ve got all these people coming out and having a great time and it’s just a joy to behold,” said Tomes.
“It was a one off, there’s nothing like it in Hong Kong.”
The chef added that he had also been overwhelmed by the responses from some customers who said “some of their best moments in Hong Kong were actually there.”
Such was the sentiment online following the announcement, with the news prompting many sad responses from some of the regulars on the Mavericks’ Facebook post.
One person said: “You created something truly special. Hope you all land on your feet elsewhere. The talented can’t be kept down.
There will be a closing event at Mavericks on Saturday, May 12 featuring UK DJ Goldie.Mavericks first opened in 2014, and has since gone on to be a favorite among expats living in Lantau Island.
News of the closure prompted many sad responses from some of the bar’s regulars, who left comments on Mavericks’ Facebook post.
Commenters have described the news as “a shame,” with some blaming the closure on “greedy landlords.”
One person said: “You created some thing truly special. Hope you all land on your feet elsewhere. The talented can’t be kept down.”
Mavericks did not immediately respond to Coconuts Hong Kong’s request for comment.
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