Emos of Sydney have something to be ever-so-slightly-less-emo about, now that Oxford Street’s iconic Burdekin Hotel, home of monthly alternative nightclub AM//PM, has clawed half an hour back off its Government-enforced lockouts.
So wipe away those mascara-streaked tears you grown-up emo kids, because the live music stalwart is joining the likes of the Oxford Art Factory, Chinese Laundry and The Basement — who’ve all previously won the Government’s 30-minute lockout extension sweepstakes — to help pump life back into the city’s ailing nighttime culture, 1,800 seconds at a time.
The venue’s exemption means it’s now allowed to let punters inside until 2am and serve last drinks at 3:30am, as opposed to the mandatory 1.30am and 3am curfew for other venues operating inside the city’s so-called ‘party precinct’.
“We’re excited to join the list of Oxford St venues recognised for their dedication to Keeping Sydney Open, and restoring vibrancy to what is one of our most diverse entertainment precincts,” says Burdekin venue manager Aran Tanaka Van de Ven.
“In the uphill battle to maintain Sydney’s nightlife economy, in a tourism destination that draws people from cities that don’t go out until well after midnight, this lockout extension will help us offer the experiences they expect when coming to our global city.”
Meanwhile, Keep Sydney Open founder Tyson Koh, who has been passionately critical of the Government’s “paltry” 30-minute trade extension as a “solution” to the city’s lockout-inflicted nightlife woes, has also weighed in on The Burdekin’s extra half hour-of-power, calling it a small win for the city.
“The Burdekin is a fantastic venue and it’s great to see them join the list of venues allowed to trade later,” he says. “Of course, they should never have been restricted in the first place, but the extra 30 minutes is a step in the right direction. You can bet that Keep Sydney Open will continue pushing until we have more adult closing times once again.”
The Burdekin, which has been a fixture in Sydney since the 1800s, is also a pillar of the LGBTQIA+ community, and has played host to countless underground house and techno events over the years, including WeLove and Spektrum, with legendary DJs like Soul Clap, Dubfire and Jamie Jones all gracing its decks.
Tanaka Van de Ven adds that the venue’s exemption “comes at an exciting time as we showcase our Vivid Music 2017 program, and build upon our reputation for high-caliber, underground music – continuing with our offering of House & Techno, while exploring other electronic styles such as DnB and UK Garage, and more recently playing host to live bands”.
