Pubs and clubs to open later for special events like State of Origin and Australia Day

Pubs and clubs across NSW will be allowed to trade later for special events with the aim of giving the state’s night-time economy a “double boost” off the back of CBD lockout laws being relaxed.

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Thousands of pubs and clubs across the state will be allowed to trade later for special events in a “double boost” for the state’s night-time economy off the back of CBD lockout laws being relaxed.

Starting from this weekend, the NSW government will move to extend hotel and club trading hours for major events such as State of Origin, the Australian Open tennis, Australia Day and the NRL Grand Final.

Almost all extensions are for events on Sundays — when most hotels and clubs are restricted to 10pm trading — with the first starting this weekend for the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Venues in the Tamworth Regional local government area will be the first to benefit when they are permitted to trade until midnight on January 19 and 26.

Lines for venues in the city after the lockout laws were reversed. Picture: Bill Hearne

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Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said the later trading times will create jobs and tourism opportunities as well as delivering a boost to the state’s economy.

At least 3400 venues across NSW stand to benefit from the changes.

It comes as tens of thousands of revellers are expec­ted to flood into Sydney’s CBD this week to celebrate the axing of contentious 1.30am lockout laws, which have been lifted everywhere except for Kings Cross.

“This is great news for ­venues and patrons,” Mr Dominello said of the longer opening hours. “(They will) deliver a double boost to the state’s night time economy, which also benefited this week from the NSW Government’s new (relaxed) lockout laws.”

The CBD lockout changes involve extending last drinks to 3.30am, ditching restrictions that ban the sale of shots after midnight, and allowing bottle shops across NSW to stay open an hour longer.

The Establishment on George Street had lines around the corner waiting to get in on Wednesday morning after the lockout laws were reversed. Picture: Bill Hearne

The extended trading hours do not apply to takeaway alcohol sales, which have only been tweaked in the CBD as part of the lockout ­reforms.

Venues that already have been approved to trade later will operate as usual.

Australian Hotels Association NSW director of liquor and policing John Green said it was a fact that “major events around the world don’t always occur during standard trading periods”.

“Not everyone wants to watch them from home — they would much rather be out in the community socialising with friends” he said.

“Extending hotel and club trading hours for special events is about providing an opportunity for patrons to share these unique occasions with friends and remove the red tape involved in individual applications.”

The extension of trading hours in previous years has proved hugely successful, particularly in relation to after-dark festival Vivid Sydney.

Venues in the CBD, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Potts Point will be allowed to trade until midnight on the three Sundays during Vivid starting from May 31.

NEWS RULES

■ Remove 1.30am last entry for all venues in the Sydney CBD Entertainment Precinct, including those on Oxford St.

■ Remove restrictions on serving cocktails, shots and drinks in glass after midnight in this precinct.

■ Extend ‘last drinks’ at venues with good records in this precinct by 30 minutes.

■ Extend bottle shop opening hours across NSW until midnight Monday to Saturday, with 11pm closing on Sunday.