New basement bar in Newtown given a 4am, 7-day liquor licence in 100-year first
For the first time in 100 years, a trendy new basement bar in Newtown has been given a liquor licence to operate until 4am, seven days a week.
Confidential
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Newtown is fast becoming the centre of Sydney’s up late night-life with an as-yet unnamed new basement bar being granted a 4am licence — the first time in 100 years.
The soon to be opened bar, run by Odd Culture Group, will be able to trade until 4am, seven days a week.
It’s the first time in 100 years that City of Sydney council has granted a liquor licence allowing those hours of trade to a new venue in 100 years.
It also becomes one of a select few venues in Newtown, like The Bank, that is allowed to trade until dawn.
Former philosophy academic turned hospitality entrepreneur James Thorpe said the licence was a big coup for his company, which also runs the award-winning Odd Culture nearby.
“Sydney’s late night offerings have been quite one dimensional. If you’re not at a dance floor at a club or a brightly lit gaming room, there isn’t a lot to offer which is unusual for such a big city,” he said.
“We want to diversify the offering and offer up something that can be seen in cities all across Europe.”
The basement bar is situated next to Newtown Station on King St. It will have a focus on live music and is set to open in coming months.
Thorpe added the submerged nature of the venue means it caters to party goers but is also far enough away from residents. Its location next to a police and train station also helped to get the licence approved.
The group has been working on the application since the start of the year and Thorpe said its success shows the “dam wall has been broken”.
“Ten years ago the government would have looked at an application like this with cynicism but the tide is well and truly turning,” he said.
NSW’s 24-hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said the new venue was “another sign of the revitalisation of Sydney’s night-life”.
Odd Culture itself has a licence to trade to 2am, which is usual for a fine dining restaurant.
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