Liquor commission refuses licence for proposed ‘high end’ nightclub in Alice Springs

The NT Liquor Commission was not satisfied the applicant of a licence for a swanky nightclub had the financial means or experience to operate it.

THE NT Liquor Commission has decided against issuing a licence for a proposed “high-end” nightclub in Alice Springs because it was not satisfied the applicant had the financial means or experience to establish the business.

The commission also heeded objections of police, who raised concerns over the potential impact on community safety.

Blade Davies-Roundhill applied for the licence in March 2021, and proposed to refurbish and reopen a defunct bar on Hartly Street as ZERO870. Mr Davies-Roundhill proposed the nightclub would operate from 9pm-2am on Thursday-Saturday and would host “DJs playing dance music”.

“ … having carefully considered the evidence and submissions regarding the applicant’s financial stability, the Commission is not satisfied that the applicant has the financial means, resources, experience, knowledge, skills and ability to successfully establish and operate the licence,” the report said.

“As a consequence … the Commission is not satisfied in this instance that the applicant is a fit and proper person, and the Commission is not satisfied that issuing the licence would be in the public interest.”

The Commission noted Mr Davies-Roundhill has no experience operating a nightclub or management experience in the hospitality industry, and believed he would “experience serious financial stress” if he commenced trading.

“The Commission considers, as the Director (or of Liquor Licensing) has submitted, that this would in turn place pressure on a licensee to “push the boundaries and possibly breach their obligations”.

The Commission noted the troubled history of a string of late-night venues in Alice Springs which closed down “after becoming associated with repeated incidents of anti-social behaviour, irresponsible trading practices, accidental injury and/or violence”.

In his application, Mr Davies-Roundhill proposed operating a smoke-free venue aimed at young adults that would promote the same of zero and low-alcohol products, but would also sell a range of full-strength beers, wine, and spirits.

The Commission commended Mr Davies-Roundhill on the proposed business model, but ultimately found it was “insufficiently robust, rigorous and realistic”. The Director’s submission to the Commission found some of Mr Davies-Roundhill’s costing estimates were “unrealistically low”.

Mr Davies-Roundhill has three other businesses registered – Integral Transport Services, Alice Springs Pawnbrokers Secondhand, and Blade’s Quality Cars.

Until January this year Mr Davies-Roundhill also had a registered business called Vision Solar Solutions Oz.

Mr Davies-Roundhill declined to comment.

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