Macedon Ranges Shire council tells Holgate Brewhouse Woodend to get off the beers … after 5pm

A Covid-ravaged Macedon Ranges brewhouse has copped another “nail in the coffin” after a council sought to hobble its tourism-boosting tap room.

Premier Daniel Andrews gets on the beers with Paul Holgate to announce the Holgate Brewhouse expansion. Picture: Kylie Else

A multimillion-dollar state government-backed brewery expansion designed to boost jobs and tourism in the Macedon Ranges is being hobbled after a handful of complaints to a local council.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council launched legal action against Holgate Brewhouse to limit service at the venue’s tap room after at least one local business owner complained about a lack of parking.

Premier Daniel Andrews – whose government spent $1.5m to revitalise the family-run Woodend brewery – helped launch the stunning $8m tap room in late-2019.

The expansion also included a reception and check-in area for Holgate hotel guests and an “interactive visitor experience” of the brewhouse’s 120-year history.

The government said its investment supported the brewhouse employing 15 new workers and “indirectly welcoming 60,000 additional visitors to Woodend each year”.

However, the local council wants to slash the tap room operating hours and limit service to beer only in a move brewhouse owners fear could cost Woodend millions in tourism revenue.

The council demanded Holgate rip up its permit and bow to the new restrictions in March last year.

Paul and Natasha Holgate aren’t tapping out of their council stoush.

The new permit restricts operating hours to 5pm and blocks food or other alcoholic beverages being served to tap room visitors.

Natasha Holgate, who revitalised and reopened the brewhouse with her husband Paul in 2002, said the tap room operates under the venue’s existing 1am liquor licence but they never keep it open later than 11pm.

Ms Holgate said the council’s shock move “floored” the hardworking husband and wife team.

“We were so shocked, it’s disappointing council has taken this view … telling us to shut by 5pm was just nuts,” Ms Holgate said.

“You would think the council would want to support hospitality businesses at this time … It’s anti-tourism, anti-hospitality, anti-business.”

Ms Holgate said restrictions serving food, wine or gin could also have ramifications for other local businesses.

“We only use local products showcasing the area and often customers will visit those businesses … it’s just another nail in the coffin.”

According to Ms Holgate the permit stoush was brought on after a “few residents” complained.

“We are in a commercial zone it’s not like we’re trying to operate in the middle of a residential street … the site has operated as a hotel for 120 years,” Ms Holgate said.

A complaint attached to a recent council agenda states parking as the main reason Holgate should be reigned in.

Holgate Brewhouse refused to budge on the council’s demands so Macedon Ranges Shire took the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Town planner John Glossop told the tribunal the move would be “detrimental to the local tourism industry” while disagreeing weekdays were “inconsequential to local tourism”.

“With the changing nature of regional tourism, part of what regional Victoria is trying to do is create a sense of destination,” he said.

Deputy president Teresa Bisucci will hand down her decision at a later date.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council was contacted for comment.