NSW coronavirus: Royal Hotel Camden bans under 22s in hard line policy

A pub at the heart of the COVID-19 outbreak in southwest Sydney has triggered a hard line policy banning all unsupervised people aged 21 and under, as well as out-of-towners. IS THIS FAIR?

The Royal Hotel Camden has barred all unsupervised people aged under 22 in light of COVID-19. Picture: Gaye Gerard

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A southwest Sydney watering hole has barred out-of-towners and unsupervised adults aged 21 and under in a unique set of hard line measures to protect against COVID-19.

Young revellers treating The Royal Hotel Camden as a “schoolies week” hub has triggered the unique policy in a desperate bid to preserve the town’s oldest pub, built in 1841.

Licences are being checked at the door to enforce the policy.

Owner Martin Sinclair said the unruly youngsters had been causing chaos in the family-friendly pub with managers forced to chase them to keep them seated. When asked to leave, physical fights have erupted.

“I just don’t feel younger people are taking note of what’s going on at the moment,” Mr Sinclair said. “We’ve had an influx of younger people in the venue treating it like a schoolies holiday.

“With fines over $50,000, I don’t see these young individuals giving a sh*t at all about my money and my fines. I don’t think they have any hurt in the game. We certainly have hurt in the game because we can be closed any time.”

Martin Sinclair. Picture: Gaye Gerard

The pub has a strict new policy.

Only Camdenites will be able to visit the pub with driver's licences to be checked on at the door.

People aged 21 and under will be shown the door unless they are with a parent or guardian.

Mr Sinclair, who has previously managed The Mean Fiddler and Camden Valley Inn, said he was happy to fight any potential discrimination battle.

The new policy has been welcomed by regular patrons.

“These are unprecedented times and if this is going to help stop the virus (it is worth it),” he said. “Camden is now literally surrounded by positive cases. My concerns aren’t really about discrimination of the entitled younger years, as opposed to providing the safest possible venue.”

Camden Park man Anthony Gordon gave the new policy his approval.

“We are very confident with the measures,” he said. “I come here all the time with my family and the measures are very sufficient, from my point of view.”

The hard line policy will be in place temporarily until the coronavirus threat clears.