Tweet Facebook Mail A popular Sydney pub has been ordered by council to drastically reduce the hours punters are able to dine and drink at the venue. The owner of the Old Fitzroy in Woolloomooloo claimed he received notice from the City of Sydney on Friday that the pub's outdoor dining license had been reduced to 8pm. The watering hole - which is one of Australia's last surviving pub theatres - had been operating al fresco dining along Dowling Street until 10pm for more than 18 years.
READ MORE: 'Tech king' missing after luxury superyacht sinks in freak storm A popular Sydney pub has been ordered by council to drastically reduce the hours punters are able to dine and drink at the venue. (Supplied) James Thorpe, the director of Odd Culture which owns the Old Fitz, said the decision was made without any consultation after a complaint from a neighbouring premises. Thorpe has now launched a petition for community support as the pub attempts to submit an application to have the order reviewed and overturned by council.
"We are saddened that council have chosen not to work with us, or indeed even offer us procedural fairness, instead choosing to silently wind back our hours," he wrote. "We're incredibly disappointed to share this news, as the sudden reduction in hours means guests won't be able to use our outdoor tables during dinner service each night." Under the current laws, a venue can be shut down following a single noise complaint.
The Old Fitz also faces a convoluted permit system for its outdoor dining arrangement. Currently, the pub must apply for two separate licenses; one to operate on the footpath and an extended roadway. READ MORE: Father, son missing off NSW south coast after fishing trip Century-old Sydney pubs could be heading to heritage list View Gallery Thorpe is worried if the decision was to go ahead, it would come right before daylight savings trading hours meaning food and drinks will cease being served outside before sunset.
The pub would also be forced to shut its pool table by 8pm to make way for more furniture once patrons are ushered inside. "The Old Fitz has long been a meeting place for the local community, and we are devastated by the news that council has made an arbitrary judgement to wind back our dining spaces in a time when the hospitality industry as a whole is suffering under economic and policy pressures," Thorpe said. A City of Sydney spokesperson told 9news.
com.au: "Occasionally businesses face challenges in complying with the conditions of the outdoor dining license". "In those instances, we work with them to try and help them remain compliant while using the footpath space.
" The spokesperson said council has been in touch with the pub's proprietor and they have submitted an application for review. "We are currently assessing the issues as part of the review and will work closely with the proprietor in an effort to resolve the matter." FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, celebrity and sport via our WhatsApp channel.
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