Plan to open wine bar next to Circa Espresso at Parramatta hits setback with council

A Parramatta hospitality dynamo has vowed to deliver a cosy boutique wine bar despite hitting a hurdle. Find out the latest.

Aykut Sayan’s plan to open a small wine has been shelved.

A Parramatta hospitality dynamo has vowed to persevere and deliver a small wine bar despite hitting a hurdle that has stalled plans to bring the cosy venue to the CBD.

Aykut Sayan was on course to deliver the yet-to-be-named bar in a heritage-listed building next to his decorated cafe, Circa Espresso.

However, Parramatta Council has informed him the development application will be rejected because it fails to comply with access for people with disabilities to reach the toilets.

Mr Sayan said it was impossible to accommodate access because it would mean a ramp would have to take up the tiny dining area or cut through the kitchen in the elegant 1920s building.

“These are challenging things – you just have to work your way through them, but being a heritage building, we can’t go around knocking down walls,’’ Mr Sayan said.

The bar has already started to be furnished.

The setback means another application will be submitted to arrange access via Woodhouse Lane at Parramatta.

“It’s disappointing because we put a lot of work into it,’’ Mr Sayan said.

He understood why disabled access had to be arranged but thought it was also “short sighted” for his vision to deliver the bar in a building that was used.as Chuffed barber shop until last year.

“Our intention was to provide something for the community which they so desperately want and it didn’t make sense that they would reject it,’’ he said.

“We will make it happen because I just feel very strongly about the fact that Parramatta needs something like this.

“It needs an alternate to the large, commercial venues – something where people can get in, have a glass of wine, have a bite to eat in the evening, which isn’t going to cost and arm and a leg.’’

He named other venues elsewhere in Sydney that did not comply with disability access but the relevant councils encouraged them to operate because it would keep “that whole neighbourhood visible and safe”.

“We will get this through one way or the other,’’ Mr Sayan said.