Commodore Hotel’s live music, venue expansion plans sparks resistance from Shore School North Sydney

A Sydney pub is facing resistance over its plans to create an expanded live music venue after concerns it could disturb locals and students at a nearby private school.

A Sydney pub is facing community resistance over its plans to become an expanded live music venue after concerns were raised that it could cause noise impacts and disturb students at a nearby private school.

The Commodore Hotel in McMahons Point is pushing ahead with a proposal to almost double the size of the venue as part of its vision to add new entertainment offerings and become a registered live music venue.

The expansion would almost double the size of the venue’s licenced area while maintaining its current capacity for up to 405 patrons.

The Commodore Hotel – which has traded across the road from prestigious private school Shore since 1920 – says the expansion will have a “strong positive effect” for the local economy and community.

Some nearby residents have hit out at the proposal due to concerns over noise, patron capacity, carparking congestion and potential impacts on the “village atmosphere” of McMahons Point.

The venue is applying for a liquor licence as part of its expansion.

Objections have also been raised by two North Sydney community precinct associations including a Lavender Bay residents group which has raised complaints about noisy “trivia nights” held at the venue.

There were also initial objections from Shore School which last month provided feedback to Liquor and Gaming NSW to register “concerns” with the granting of a liquor licence for the expanded area, partly due to the potential increase in patron activity.

The letter stated the school’s concerns included a recent issue with an “unauthorised man trespassing” on to the school campus which the school “suspected had come from the Commodore Hotel”.

Shore School is located across the road from the pub.

“As you know we operate a school with boarding houses with students from Year 7 and young families in proximity to this facility and are concerned about the potential increased impact,” the school’s objection letter added.

“We also own apartments across the road from the facility and have concerns about the impact of the expanded capacity.”

A school spokeswoman said the concerns raised by the school were addressed during a “productive meeting with the hotel” following the submission.

The Commodore Hotel is facing opposition over its liquor licence application

It is understood the hotel has also sought “continued dialogue with the Shore” to resolve the concerns raised.

Pub owner Glenn Piper, in a statement, said the Commodore was an iconic pub with a rich and storied history.

“Our refurbishment aims to honour that legacy while elevating the venue into something truly special that resonates with today’s community,” he said.

“At the heart of our business is a desire to revive local pride in the venues we take on. We’re excited to breathe new life into this very special part of Sydney and create an experience that the whole community can call their own.

“We are taking great care with our acoustic treatments to comply with liquor licencing laws”.

The feedback comes weeks after the NSW Government announced new reforms aimed at encouraging the city’s hospitality and live music scene.

The reforms include protecting pubs and live music haunts from the threat of residents complaints in a move to stop the “NSW sport” of neighbours shutting down venues.

Plans by the Commodore Hotel to Liquor and Gaming NSW stated the granting of a liquor licence will present “no readily apparent risks to the local community”.

The liquor licence application will require final approval from Liquor and Gaming NSW and remains under assessment.

The pub’s expansion plan involves the conversion of an existing hotel carpark into new patron areas that also include a gaming room, sports bar and first floor renovations.