Small bars are booming, with 26 new licences approved across the state since the NSW Government relaxed the rules last December, Racing Minister Paul Toole said on Sunday.
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Mr Toole said on Sunday small bars were providing more diverse night-time entertainment options and helping boost local economies.
“The Liberals & Nationals Government introduced this new type of liquor licence in 2013 and since then the growth of small bars has been phenomenal,” Mr Toole said.
“There has been a strong industry response to our recent changes which increased the patron limit for small bars from 60 to 100. We also extended trading times for small bar licence-holders in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross from midnight to 2am, in line with the rest of the state.”
Small bars across NSW seeking to trade later up to 5am, either permanently or for special occasions, can apply to Liquor & Gaming NSW. “Small bars are meeting a demand for more sophisticated night-time entertainment for those wanting to relax in a more intimate setting,” Mr Toole said.
There are now 73 venues across NSW operating with small bar licences, an increase of 26 since the relaxed trading conditions were introduced last December. Regional areas are also experiencing growth in small bars with new licences recently approved in Newcastle, Wollongong, Tamworth, Jindabyne, Lismore.