Thundercat @ The Basement, Sydney 2016 / Photo: Maria Boyadgis

Three More Lockout-Affected Sydney Music Venues Score Longer Opening Hours

Three more venues currently affected by Sydney’s controversial lockout laws have received extensions to their opening hours from the State Government.

The Basement at Circular Quay, O’Malley’s Hotel in Kings Cross and The Republic Hotel on Pitt Street have now received approval to admit punters until 2am and serve drinks until 3:30am, joining seven other Sydney venues (including Oxford Art Factory) which have received extensions.

“The Basement at Circular Quay is a Sydney institution well known to generations of music lovers,” says Minister for Racing Paul Toole. “Since 1972, it has hosted thousands of acclaimed national and international acts across rock, pop, jazz, country and blues.”

Mr Toole says 16 other venues are also expected to receive extensions from Liquor & Gaming New South Wales.

Oxford Art Factory and Mr B’s Hotel were both granted extensions last month, after other venues like World Bar, the Stonewall Hotel and the ArtHouse Hotel were also granted later opening hours as part of Government-stipulated exemptions for live music venues.

The latest extensions come after Sydney music venue Mr Falcon’s closed its doors in March, and a study by the NSW Government found that violence is increasing in the suburbs surrounding Sydney’s lockout zone.

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