Sydney dance institution The Spice Cellar has announced it will cease operations as a venue for regular club nights, only a few weeks after the police had the Imperial Hotel venue shut down for a weekend following a drug bust.
The announcement was made in an email statement by Spice, which only moved from its CBD location to Erskineville in March 2015. That change of venue came about in the direct aftermath of the lockout laws imposed by the New South Wales State Government on licensed venues in Sydney.
The statement from Spice said:
“The Spice Cellar has taken the difficult and heartbreaking decision to cease operating as a weekly night clubbing destination in the basement of the Imperial Hotel. Thank you to all who have supported the Spice Cellar over the past 4 years. It has been an institution for noteworthy events and played an integral part in Sydney nightlife and the growth of underground music, showcasing local artists in conjunction with high profile international guests.
“The current climate for late night entertainment in Sydney has been put under extreme duress. The misconception and lack of understanding towards late night culture, combined with the introduction of 1:30am lockout laws has seen many venues close over the past year, putting a grave future in place for Sydney’s late night entertainment industry. Small business owners lack influence and do not have a voice.
“Unfortunately there is an ongoing problem with drinking culture, antisocial behaviour, and violence in NSW … Who is really at fault for bad behaviour? Is it the venue that serves the alcohol, the promoter who organises the event, the alcohol companies who produce the alcohol OR is it the individual?”
UPDATE: The Friday night Meanwhile party has also pulled out of the Imperial Hotel, while the future of the hotel itself remains unclear.
Meanwhile blamed its move on “a continued vendetta carried out by OLGR [liquor licensing] and the local police” and emphasised that it’s “far from the end” for the club night. This Friday’s Meeting Tree event is expected to go ahead elsewhere.
