b³ – brisbane boutique bars

The first business in Queensland to sell liquor under the authority of the newly created ‘Bar Licence’ was Inspire Gallery & Bar, Vulture Street, West End.

As the name suggests, Inspire Gallery & Bar combines an art gallery with a bar and the business owners, Jacqui Hannam and Marcel Gerstel, plan to showcase the best of local art in an intimate bar setting.

The Liquor Act describes the principal activity of a Bar Licence as:

S.70(1)The principal activity of a business conducted under a bar licence is the sale of liquor on the licensed premises having the capacity to seat not more than 60 patrons at any one time.

During the processing of the application by Inspire Gallery & Bar the Office of Liquor & Gaming Regulation proposed the following conditions be placed on the licence:

The licensee and approved manager must ensure that seating is provided for not more than 60 patrons at any one time within the licensed premises.

The licensee and approved manager must ensure that no more than 80 patrons whether seated or othewise are on the licensed premises at any one time.

However, the final approval contained the following, more restrictive, condition:

The licensee and approved manager must ensure that no more than 60 patrons whether seated or othewise are on the licensed premises at any one time.

It appears this will be a standard condition on all Bar Licences.

It is unfortunate that OLGR have chosen this direction but we are working with them to achieve a more flexible application of this policy in the future. We will update this website with any further developments.

This article on 4bars.com.au tells us New South Wales town planning is also playing catch up with the liquor licensing legislation. B³ is working to speed up the change in Queensland.

In some areas of Brisbane an application for a bar licence is less complicated than it is in others. The first bar licence to be approved is in South Brisbane/Woolloongabba at Caro Mio, a classic 30s style cafe and jazz bar now licensed and offering movies on the weekends. In this pocket of South Brisbane the town planning regulations classify a  hotel as a Self Assessable application. When will the rest of the state be brought into line?

http://4bars.com.au/web/2009/08/14/small-bar-red-tape/

Envious of Melbourne’s intimate laneway bars, both Sydney and Perth have brought in reforms aimed at fostering a more vibrant nightlife.

But advocates of the Melbourne model in both cities say legislative red tape and entrenched attitudes are blocking moves to diversify the bar scene.

(Read the full ABC News article)

B³ – Brisbane Boutique Bars will be officially launched on Wednesday 15th July 2009 at Limes Hotel, Constance Street, Fortitude Valley. Subscribe to our news feed now to be on the invitation list.

SMALL boutique laneway bars, akin to those in Japan, Melbourne or Barcelona, are the way of the future for Fortitude Valley, says Councillor David Hinchliffe (Central).

And Limes Hotel owner Damian Griffiths agrees, shortly lodging a development application…(full article)