Bel & Brio owner Mark Richerdson to manage Sydney gay nightclub ARQ

An embattled businessman who former staff say has built a “toxic culture” at his now-closed restaurant is behind the reopening of one of Australia’s most iconic gay clubs.

Mark Richerdson, 38, owned Italian restaurant Bel & Brio in Barangaroo, in Sydney’s CBD, before the business was forcibly closed last month over $1.8 million in unpaid rent owed to Lendlease.

Three ex-employees at the luxury venue spoke to Daily Mail Australia and claimed they had waited months for their compensation after being put on minimum wage during Covid.

An email, seen by this publication, that Mr Richerdson sent to staff claimed that the workers would get the difference ‘as soon as we get back on our feet’.

“We are certainly concerned about the future staff who will work for him, as we believe he will continue to do the same as for the Bel & Brio staff,” said a former staffer.

The ex-employees claim they are also still waiting for retirement after not receiving anything for months and claim that the environment at Bel & Brio was ‘toxic’.

But the forced closure of Bel & Brio has done little to quell Mr. Richerdson’s appetite for business. The 38-year-old started a new venture this week, becoming the owner of the iconic Oxford Street nightclub ARQ in Darlinghurst, Sydney.

The club closed during Covid and was listed for $50 million in September 2021, but will welcome revelers next month led by Mr Richerdson and his company Kings Experience PTY LTD.

A Kings Experience employee had to delete a Facebook post about hiring staff at the venue on Wednesday night after it was flooded with negative comments from former Bel & Brio employees.

“To the owner of this new ‘exciting’ location, would you kindly pay wages, pensions and tips to the employees of your previous company. Myself and all the Bel & Brio staff are waiting for this!’ read a comment.

Another individual warned potential ARQ applicants to investigate the demise of Mr. Richerdson’s former company.

He reportedly spent $4 million on the deal that saw him revamp the nightclub, and will also manage the neighboring Bodyline Sauna.

Former Bel & Brio staff spoke to Daily Mail Australia and claimed they had been abandoned by Mr Richerdson when the restaurant went under.

When Covid took hold in 2020, staff claimed Mr Richerdson told his employees they could continue to work, but only at the minimum wage of $350 a week.

An email to staff confirmed that Mr Richerdson had told employees they would be reimbursed once the company was back on its feet.

Employees claim that because most had work visas, they had no choice but to stay and work to stay in Australia – something Richerdson said they used against them.

The business closed during Covid but was busy offering delivery and takeaway, with staff working on minimum wage for four months.

One worker claimed that after leaving the company he still owed tens of thousands of dollars for the services he worked at minimum wage, and that he did not receive payment until several months later.

Another ex-staff member claims he still owes about $120,000 in unpaid wages and pension after stepping down out of the blue.

The former employee said he took the matter to the Fair Work Commission.

He claimed that when he tried to reach Mr Richerdson as to why he was suddenly not receiving services, he was repeatedly ignored and had not spoken to the owner since his last stint at the restaurant.

“He made a lot of promises that he never kept,” the ex-employee claimed.

When the company went under, the worker claimed not everyone was told the restaurant was closed and some even came up before the morning shift to find the doors padlocked.

“He told some senior staff not to worry and that he would reopen soon, which was a lie,” he said.

Mr Richerdson previously claimed that all staff had been ‘paid back’ for the time they worked at minimum wage during Covid, news.com.au reported.

“Anyone still in debt will be paid out with all their claims once the transition takes place,” he added.

Mr. Richerdson, Bel & Brio’s chief operating officer, claimed he was ‘blindsided’ by the fact that Lendlease had closed its business, but admitted that staff were still being paid because the closure occurred during a pay week.

“I am doing everything I can to resolve this issue so that I can provide them with clear information,” he told the publication.

With regard to unpaid pension claims, Mr Richerdson said he was ‘personally affected by a pension guarantee from the ATO’.

“Currently, we’re running a monthly payment plan to make sure everyone gets everything they owe.”

When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Mr Richerdson declined to comment.