Melbourne bar Pawn & Co apologise for insensitive 'coronavirus marketing'

A Melbourne bar has apologised "unreservedly" for insensitive marketing of its Chinese New Year special.

Prahran bar Pawn & Co copped heated backlash after posting a deal for $8 Corona beers and a "limited edition face mask" on Friday.

A cartoon rice hat was also part of the deal.

Social media users took issue with the bar's marketing deal for making light of the deadly coronavirus outbreak which has killed about 500 people.

"We would like to unreservedly apologise for the insensitive and inappropriate marketing that has been circulated from Mr Chan's brand," Pawn & Co said in a statement on Facebook.

"We acknowledge that we should have been more active in understanding the communication being marketed and how it might be perceived.

"We will immediately look to make changes here that reflect the values of our venue, team and the broader community."

The apology comes amid rising concerns of anti-Chinese sentiment since the coronavirus outbreak.

Event promoter Mr Chan's said they would review their branding "immediately".

"We recognise that a promotional post that was made last week was offensive and we unreservedly apologise for this," they said in a statement.

"We also recognise that some of our past promotional material was inappropriate, once again we apologise for this. We are taking action and reviewing the Mr Chan's branding."

The promotional material has since been deleted.

Mr Chan's Facebook and Instagram pages have also been removed.