Wellington bar owner Jose Ubiaga blames liquor licensing opposition for recent closures

Two Wellington bars prominently located on the capital’s party strip have been forced to close their doors, with the owner blaming opposition to liquor licensing as the “nail in the coffin”. SugarWoods Limited, which operated Rubix Bar and SugarWoods Bar in Courtenay Place, was placed into liquidation this month . Operator Jose Ubiaga told the Herald the bars simply weren’t making any money, and said while the struggling economy and dire state of Courtenay Place didn’t help, he believes local authorities contesting alcohol licence applications are responsible.

SugarWoods was at the former site of The Establishment bar, which closed in early 2022 after a failed bid to renew its licence . At the time it was labelled one of the highest-risk licensed premises in the city..