Tap Bar manager says they’re ‘just happy to be open’, after liquor license rules them out of dance floor

A popular Mitchell St venue that was found to have breached its licence for having a dance floor has received plenty of support. SEE WHAT THE PUB HAS TO SAY

THE owners of a popular Darwin pub have declined to comment on an NT Liquor Commission decision that found it breached of its liquor license.

In May, the commission found Tap Bar on Mitchell was not entitled to have a dance floor and should stay within its license provision to be an alfresco cafe.

Tap Bar on Mitchell manager Kylie Arthur declined to comment on the Liquor Commission’s ruling, other than to say she was simply happy, after two years of Covid disruptions, that the pub is back in business.

“We’re just happy to be open,” Ms Arthur said.

The popular watering hole and cafe has received an outpouring of support on social media.

“Really oh come on nothing wrong moving furniture to dance …. Serious really,” Michelle Robles said on Facebook.

“Not aloud (sic) to move furniture, not aloud (sic) to dance on tables. How ya meant to have fun around here,” Liz Parkhill posted.

The Liquor Commission blasted Tap Bar on Mitchell as having “the appearance of a rowdy pub beer garden rather than alfresco cafe” and found in breach of its licence for having a dance floor.

Tap Bar on Mitchell St was found to have violated the conditions of its liquor licence on four occasions between October 2020 and May 2021.

On all four occasions, the breaches included moving furniture around the venue so a dance floor could be set up in front of a performer.

Music was also being played “independently of the in-house sound system”, in a breach of the rules set up under its previous licence.

“If it wanted to operate a late night music venue, it could have done so within the walls of the Opium Nightclub rather than leasing those premises to another operator,” the Commission wrote in its findings.

Tap Bar on Mitchell St has been found in breach of its licence. Picture Julianne Osborne

The bar’s licence stipulated that it was not allowed to have a dance floor, was meant to resemble an alfresco cafe and was only allowed to play music through an in-house sounds speaker.

In its submission, Tap Bar argued: “it is certainly not the intention of the Licensee to create a dancefloor”.

“It is an unmarked concrete floor with no designated lighting or mirror ball,” it said.

This claim was flatly rejected by the NT Liquor Commission.

“The fact that there is no “mirror ball” or special lighting does not prevent the area from becoming the “designated dance floor” on a particular night,” the Commission ruled.

“Once again, the Licensee’s attitude to these alleged breaches is disappointing.”

In its ruling, the Commission found that its current entertainment conditions could remain in place, allowing it to host performances until 11pm Sundays to Wednesdays, and until midnight Thursdays to Saturdays.

But Tap Bar was warned that any further breaches would lead the Commission to ban entertainment in the alfresco dining area.