Club 77 in Darlinghurst to bring security in-house to combat heavy-handed Sydney bouncers

Security guards will be swapped for in-house “safety officers” at a popular Sydney nightclub, with its owner fed up with the city’s heavy-handed bouncer culture.

The owner of one of Sydney’s longest running late-night venues has applied for a security master licence to combat the “massive issue” that is bouncer culture in Sydney.

Dane Gorrel, the owner of Club 77 in Darlinghurst, has applied for a licence so he can directly employ security guards and not have to use third party contractors.

The hospitality veteran said the move was to ensure the security guards behaviour aligned with the club, and not a third party.

“The biggest issue we have is the lack of training with the security we get from the third party. They aren’t trained for our specific venue and there is a lack of understanding of what our venue requires,” Gorrel said.

Club 77 owner Dane Gorrel has applied for a security master licence to combat the ‘massive issue’ that is security guard culture in Sydney. Picture: Richard Dobson

According to Service NSW, any business that employs or subcontracts people to carry out defined security activities must hold a master licence.

Liquor licence laws require any venue which has a capacity over 100 people to employ a licensed guard.

Most venues in Sydney use third-party security contractors.

The basement nightclub in Darlinghurst, which has been in the area for more than 25 years and specialises in electro music, has made news in the past for its innovate approach to safety and wellbeing.

The Darlinghurst venue has also banned revellers from staring. Picture: Richard Dobson

In August 2022, Gorrel announced Club 77’s new Safety and Harassment policy which banned patrons from “staring at someone from afar” without prior “verbal consent” in a bid to make the venue a safe space.

Gorrel believes bringing guards in-house will help create an environment that is “inclusive and diverse.”

As it stands, when using a third party contractor, he is not given the same guards every night.

The simple rules at Club 77. Picture: Supplied.

“Like our bartenders, who know the names of our regulars, we want the same for the guards. We want them to be part of the fabric of the club,” he said, adding his modelled his approach on clubs in Europe.

Gorrel also suggests changing bouncers’ titles from security guards to safety officers will help bring about this change.

“There job isn’t to make people feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. It’s their job to blend into the club and make people feel safe,” he said.

Gorrel is set to find out imminently whether his application for the licence has been successful.