Venues Update: November 25
Image: Boy & Bearplayed the farewell set at The Venue
THE FIGTREE GOES TO MARKET
The Figtree in Wollongong is the latest music supporting venue to go on the market. No price is advertised but the last time it changed hands, in 2007, for $3.2 million, speculation is that its final bid could be double that figure.
THE NEWPORT APPLIES FOR MARINA
The Newport, owned by Justin Hemmes’ Merivale, has applied to Northern Beaches Council to create a marina for 14 vessels for patrons who come to the venue by boat. Bookings will be through Merivale. The Newport is bringing back its summer Sunday Sundown with a variety of music acts between December 4 and February 26.
BATHERS TAKES IT TO THE SAND
Fremantle’s Bathers Beach House, which features live music after 3 pm, is now licensed to serve alcohol with food on the beach. The two-year-old venue claims this as an Australian first, and a plus for Fremantle tourism.
TOWNSVILLE’S THE VENUE CLOSES …
Townsville’s The Venue on Flinders Street has hosted its final live music session, as it gets taken over by new owner Strand Fitness in two weeks. Sydney-based Boy & Bear played the so-long-farewell set. The Venue, built in 1894, was originally the Lion Brewery and its first brew of Lion XXX Beer went on sale in October 1895.
…AS DOES PERTH’S MALT SUPPER CLUB
WA’s late night Malt Supper Club in Mt. Lawley has gone into liquidation. It opened in 2010 mixing music, food and drinks for night owls, first owned by former Fremantle Dockers captain-turned-radio personality Peter Bell, and later by entrepreneur Tony Tricarico.
BAN FOR FORMER IMPERIAL MANAGER
The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority Board slapped a three-year ban and $6,000 fine on Murat Kilic, the former manager of the Imperial in Sydney’s Erskineville. In a statement it said, “Between April and July 2015, NSW Police and Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors attended the hotel numerous times and found intoxicated patrons, drug use and paraphernalia, noise and crowd control issues and CCTV cameras not working.”
MAX WATTS NOW HOSTING ELEFANT TRAKS 18TH
Hip hop label Elefant Traks’ 18th birthday on December 10 has moved to Max Watts (Entertainment Quarter) as the first venue sold out. The change means that 200 extra tickets went on sale to see the awesome bill with The Herd, Horrorshow, L-Fresh The Lion, B Wise, The Last Kinection and a series of mystery guests.
NEW OWNER FOR FIVE DOCKS
The Five Docks in Sydney, which hosted live music in its sports bar, has a new owner. The Lantern Group sold it to former Wallaby Bill Young for $28.75 million. Young also owns The Concord West, The Palace in Mortlake and The Wisemans Ferry Inn.
CLUB BAY VIEW RETURNS
Perth’s upstairs Club Bay View in St Quentin Avenue is re-opening, says Dr Sainken who first opened it in the 1980s. The club was closed in July by authorities over valid paperwork when dozens of patrons were still inside. It was at that time operated by Richard Clark.