Sad news for Gold Coast music lovers today, as popular venue NightQuarter has announced it will be shutting its doors come the start of February.

As reported by The Music, the venue has been forced to shut down after the venue’s landlord, Scentre (the same company that owns Westfield Australia), gave the owners a contract extension that also doubled the rent.

“We had an agreement for an extended term at the site subject to agreement on revised rent,” co-owner Ian Van der Woude told The Music.

“The landlord was seeking more than double the rent for an extended five-year term. We tried numerous times to negotiate a revised agreement that worked for both parties, even directly contacting Scentre CEO, Mr Peter Allen, however there was limited opportunity to get to a deal that would have enabled us to stay at Helensvale.”

“From day one we have been committed to original live music on the Gold Coast,” Van der Woude and fellow co-owner Michelle Christoe continued.

“With over 6,000 performances on our stages, we consider the performers of the Gold Coast as friends and family and can’t wait to see how high they soar in their careers. With our main stage The Paddock hosting 2,300, we have attracted touring acts back to the Gold Coast region. Over half a million patrons have attended our ticketed events over the past three years both by locals and tourists alike.”

“Michelle and I are disappointed and saddened that we weren’t able to keep NightQuarter at Helensvale,” Van der Woude said.

“We have invested so much into the venue both financially and emotionally over the past three years.”

The venue will be officially shutting its doors on February 1st.