NEWCASTLE’S young people say the regulation of licensed venues in town has gone too far and is killing the city’s once famous nightlife.
The Casino, Liquor and Gaming Control Authority’s decision this week to force a 1am lockout on Hamilton hotels followed last month’s refusal of a liquor licence for the proposed Kensington Nightclub on Hunter Street.
With more than 3800 people joining a Facebook campaign supporting the Kensington, the Newcastle Herald assembled six young people for their thoughts on Newcastle’s nightlife, the curfew, transport and safety after dark.
TRANSPORT
A DIRE lack of public transport prevented many revellers from coming to Newcastle, the Newcastle Herald’s panel of six young people said.
They described the only real means, taxis, as ‘‘woeful’’.
Ryan Laughton, 27, said the situation had become so desperate he had paid for lifts from illegal operators.
‘‘I’ve walked home many times just because you can’t get a taxi,’’ he said.
Young women also reported walking home on occasion, even as far as Lambton.
‘‘That’s one reason why I don’t go out because of the taxi service,’’ Cassie Radnege, 23, said.
‘‘They’re not adequate.’’
Lee Nesbitt, 29, said the situation was ‘‘really, really bad’’ and he had resorted to being designated driver.
‘‘You can stand out the front of a venue for two hours,’’ he said.
‘‘If you call they either don’t answer or they don’t come to pick you up.
‘‘It’s easier to book a hire car and there’s no buses.’’
LOCKOUTS
MOST generally supported the 1.30am lockout in Newcastle and earlier closing times for pubs and clubs because it reduced violence.
But Jennifer Young, 27, was sceptical and questioned whether it had been effective.
‘‘Rather than letting people sort of come and go as they would naturally you’re forcing everyone to do their coming and going at the same time,’’ Ms Young said.
‘‘That’s a lot of the problem with the taxis.’’
Mr Nesbitt said he had mixed emotions about it.
‘‘The young people have done it to themselves but if you’re over 18 you should be able to stay out as long as you want and go to as many places as you want,’’ Mr Nesbitt said.
‘‘If you’ve got people going from club to club you’ve got more people on the street and more witnesses if something does happen.’’
Mr Laughton said it could be inconvenient for hospitality workers who worked unusual hours.
SAFETY
MOST said more venues would improve passive surveillance on streets between clubs and many praised venues for having tight security.
The men in the group felt they were bigger targets than women on the streets of Newcastle at night because of gangs looking for fights.
Among the females, despite concerns about safety and violence, none reported having been involved in violent incidents.
Greg Sheehan, 27, said an innocent high-five on the street one night was met with a shove to the ground and an injured elbow thanks to a group of males wanting a fight.
Mr Nesbitt said he would rather have his wife walk down George Street in Sydney than in Newcastle because it was so desolate at night.
‘‘I personally have never had a problem,’’ Mr Nesbitt said.
‘‘It’s commonsense, stay in groups and walk pub to pub without causing a scene,’’ he said.
VARIETY
A NEW nightclub would be good but a new ‘‘anything’’ would do, the group said.
Young visitors to Newcastle wanted relaxed venues that could cater to Sunday afternoon sessions, jazz clubs or cocktail lounges.
There was a general call for more upmarket venues where the focus was away from binge drinking.
Ms Young said what was lacking were classy bars that stayed open past midnight.
‘‘The Dell is okay but if you go out after dinner they start kicking everyone out at 11.30pm,’’ she said
‘‘Some people will head over to the King Street Hotel then, I usually go home.’’
Mr Nesbitt questioned whether the Hunter was big enough to cater to niche markets, but said such bars were needed.
Mr Sheehan said the lockout inhibited competition between venues.
‘‘In Newcastle you have to make a decision where you’re going if you don’t like it you’re stuck there or go home,’’ he said.
QUEUES/COST
THERE was contempt for venues with door charges and queues in that offered nothing in return.
Most of the group the Herald surveyed said they would pay to see a particular band or DJ but only if they were worth the fee.
Some suggested that competition might make the charges fall or disappear.
Ms Young said she didn’t think there was anywhere ‘‘good enough’’ in Newcastle that could legitimately charge an entry fee.
Jessica Thurn, 23, was also not a fan of door charges.
‘‘You’re going to spend money in there rather than at the door,’’ she said.
Mr Sheehan said he thought queues were more about marketing than crowds.
‘‘Sometimes you feel like queues are really long and you get inside and there’s so much room.’’
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