Sydney lockout laws: 20 Kings Cross, city pubs and venues get extra trading time

EXCLUSIVE: KINGS Cross is being thrown a badly needed night-lifeline, with 20 venues across the struggling entertainment precinct and the CBD scoring exemptions from the lockout laws. FULL LIST

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KINGS Cross and the CBD are being thrown a badly needed night lifeline, with 20 venues across the struggling entertainment precincts scoring exemptions from the lockout laws which will allow them to stay open an extra half-hour.

Once the bustling and infamous centre of the city’s hard partying night-life, the Cross is now a shadow of its former self, with businesses struggling and crowds of revellers an increasingly rare sight.

While defenders of the lockout laws have pointed to a reduction in booze-fuelled violence, those on the other side of the fight insist Sydney’s cultural scene has been dealt a devastating blow.

Pippa Walker and BenLe Messurier at the Kings Cross Hotel. The pair have welcomed the extended trading hours for venues. The Kings Cross Hotel is on the list. Picture: Rohan Kelly

The state government hopes its softening of the laws, brought in after the one-punch deaths of young men Daniel Christie and Thomas Kelly, will give the area a chance at survival, while ensuring violence doesn’t return to the streets. In December, it announced a relaxation of the controversial liquor laws that would push back last drinks from 3am to 3.30am and lockout from 1.30am to 2am, if venues could show they were providing genuine live entertainment­.

The venues set to benefit from extended trading hours.

As a result, 20 venues, including the Kings Cross Hotel, have all gained exemptions. The Slip Inn, located in the CBD, recently secured an exemption as well.

Dan Lacaze — the group marketing director at Solotel, which includes the Kings Cross Hotel in its portfolio — said he was “really, really happy” with the trading hour extension.

“I think a vibrant night-life is a really important part of us building the culture of this great city,” he said.

“What we see this as is a really positive step in the right direction — particularly for an area that has contributed for a long time to the history of the city and it’s fallen on tough times. The area isn’t what it used to be.”

Kings Cross was dealt a major blow by the lock outs. Picture: Bill Hearne

Kings Cross Hotel social co-ordinator Pippa Walker also backed the changes.

“I reckon these laws will be welcomed by young people,” Ms Walker said.

An exemption granted to the Potts Point Hotel slightly differed in that it wasn’t based on live entertainment, with the venue having to show that later hours would be unlikely to lead to an increase in bad behaviour and that it would proactively ensure that wasn’t the case.

Mr Lacaze was confident the adjustments would help business in the area but noted that he would still “encourage further repeals in the laws”.

World Bar on Bayswater Rd, Darlinghurst. Picture: Bill Hearne

The Palace Hotel in Haymarket.

“We’re really pleased with the latest changes and we want to continue to work with the government, with the local residents and with people who are invested in Sydney having a really strong night-life, and we want to support all those people and get to the right solution,” he said.

Racing Minister Paul Toole said the extra half-hour would help “boost Sydney’s night-life and give musicians and other entertainers more opportunities to perform”.

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Minister for Racing Paul Toole. Picture: Adam Yip

“I’m really pleased with the strong industry response to our government’s relaxation of liquor laws for the Kings Cross and CBD precincts,” Mr Toole said.

“The extended trading is a key part of our renewed focus on providing diverse night-time entertainment options while balancing the need for community safety.”

Mr Toole particularly pointed to the trading hour changes for the Potts Point Hotel and Kings Cross Hotel, saying that it was “a positive sign for a renewed and vibrant Kings Cross with a greater focus on live entertainment and cultural events and more up-market and sophisticated venues”.

The Potts Point Hotel has had its hours extended. Picture: John Appleyard

Venues have to apply for the exemption, with Liquor & Gaming NSW taking into account police information and liquor law compliance history in addition to the live entertainment factor.

FULL LIST OF VENUES:

+ Mr B’s Hotel (CBD)

+ The Arthouse Hotel (CBD)

+ Palace Hotel (CBD)

+ The World Bar (KX)

+ Observer Hotel (CBD)

+ Stonewall Hotel (CBD)

+ The Scary Canary (CBD)

+ O’Malley’s Hotel (KX)

+ The Basement (CBD)

+ Republic Hotel (CBD)

+ The Cliff Dive (CBD)

+ Oxford Art Factory (CBD)

+ Brighton Hotel (CBD)

+ ARQ Sydney (CBD)

+ Burdekin Hotel (CBD)

+ Kings Cross Hotel (KX)

+ Kinselas Hotel (CBD)

+ Potts Point Hotel (KX)

+ Establishment (CBD)

+ Slip Inn (CBD)