Eros Sydney: Potts Point restaurant forced to close over bikie fears, public safety risks

A Potts Point restaurant and bar was ordered to close its doors to the weekend’s trade after the state’s liquor and gaming watchdog determined the venue posed a ‘significant threat’ to the public.

The venue was ordered to close for 60 hours.

A Potts Point restaurant and bar was ordered to close its doors to the weekend’s trade after police received information that members of a bikie gang were planning to rock up at the venue to commit an act of retribution.

The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) served Eros Sydney at Potts Point with an urgent 60-hour short term closure order on Friday night due to concerns that a “serious breach” of NSW liquor regulations was “likely to occur on the premises’’.

The short-term closure order was based on an application by NSW Police and came into force at 7.30pm on Friday night.

NewsLocal understands that police had received information on Friday that members of an outlaw motorcycle gang were plotting to attend the venue to commit an act of retribution.

It is understood that gang members had been allegedly planning to attend the venue to demand repayments for money the gang claims it is owed.

The venue was ordered to close for 60 hours over the weekend.

The information prompted concerns that bikies would attend the venue and present potential risks to diners and other members of the public at the popular Greek restaurant.

It is understood the venue has a history of recent compliance incidents including a violent brawl in February between unknown male patrons in which glass bottles were used as weapons between the brawling men.

The venue opened in Potts Point last year.

Multiple people were injured in the incident which was not immediately reported to police by the venue. It was instead notified by a witness.

Liquor and Gaming, in issuing the short term closure order, stated it had received “police information of a serious nature” and “determined that closure of the premises is necessary to prevent or reduce a significant threat or risk to the public interest”.

A Liquor and Gaming spokesman declined to comment about the closure order.

NSW Police in a statement said the “decision to close a business (and why) was at the discretion of Liquor and Gaming”.

The closure order issued to Eros Sydney lapsed at 7.30am on Monday.