City of Sydney Hosts Inaugural Small Bar Seminar

By Rebecca Harris

The City of Sydney this week hosted the first of three free seminars designed to assist people wanting to open a small bar in NSW.

Changes to the legislation on July 1 last year simplified the application process of opening up a licensed venue in the state and significantly lowering the cost of obtaining a liquor license for venues with floor areas of less than 200sq-m.

Offering information about liquor licences and some of the issues and benefits of small bars, speakers included City of Sydney councillor John McInerney, NSW Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing's senior project officer, Ross McCulloch, and the owners of the first bar to open under the new laws, Luke Herd and Chris Lane.

The City of Sydney's laneways business development co-ordinator Richard Roberts described the first seminar as a “huge success".

“Feedback from the seminar was positive and encouraging,” he said. “Attendees receiv(ed) expert advice from Melbourne's small bar pioneer Craig Allchin, City Planners, the Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing and successful small bar operators," he said.

 “There's no shortage of creative people looking to open up small bars and laneway businesses within Sydney.”

The next session to be held on July  28 is fully booked, however places are still available in the third session on November 5.