Beachfront restaurant shuts doors

The owner of a popular beachside restaurant has locked staff out just weeks after closing the Parade Hotel in East Bunbury in similar circumstances.

Employees at NooVoh Beachfront Dining were notified by text message from owner Maggie Newton yesterday morning that they were no longer needed.Ms Newton closed the doors of the Parade Hotel on April 15 – leaving about 20 staff stranded.

Yesterday, the doors of NooVoh were padlocked and a senior manager, who did not want to be named, told the Bunbury Herald that she and 18 other staff members were out of work.

The manager said it appeared the restaurant had been emptied – including tables, couches and cutlery.

The manager was yesterday taking calls from angry employees who were told after the Parade Hotel closed to not worry about their jobs and to not “believe everything you read in the papers”.

“They cannot believe that they didn’t get any notice,” the manager said.

The building is owned by Bunbury City Council and a new lease was negotiated last year.

A spokeswoman for the potential new managers said they were still finalising the transfer of the lease with the council.

Yesterday, Peter and Stephi Degens were forced to change their plans to renew their wedding vows at NooVoh despite confirming their booking on Sunday.

“We are both fortunate to have a job but I tell you what, we’d be in trouble if we turned up at work and didn’t have it,” Mrs Degens said.

Ms Newton has been contacted for comment.