From today, patrons can now stand up with a drink outside pubs, restaurants and bars operating across the City of Sydney, scrapping a long-standing rule that prevented people drinking on the footpath without a table or shelf.
asserted
that → stand → table
The updated outdoor dining guideline are part of a wider push to make outdoor dining a permanent part of the city’s streets.
asserted
dining → update → streets
This change affects all City of Sydney suburbs, from St Peters to Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, Erskineville and the CBD.
asserted
change → affect → Point
Removing the lingering hangover from the guidelines means punters can wait on the footpath with a glass of wine until their table is ready, and stand out the front of the pub drinking a beer, provided the venue has a designated outdoor dining area.
asserted
venue → remove → area
The idea is that the change will add energy and life to public spaces, bringing Sydney closer to the outdoor dining and drinking culture of many European cities.
asserted
change → add → cities
Matt Johnson, group beverage director at Applejack Group, which runs venues across the City of Sydney council area, including Opera Bar, Surry Hills’ Forrester’s and The Butler in Potts Point, says the change will make a big difference to the group’s venues.
asserted
change → run → venues
“It’s super exciting and just in time for summer too,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → summer
“I’m from the UK, so I grew up in Brighton and London, where it’s completely the norm to be outside the pub standing with a pint, with friends.
asserted
it → ’m → friends
“On our busier days, like Anzac Day and during the sports season, our pubs are bursting at the seams, so this will give us more space, and it creates such a good energy to be able to have guests standing and drinking outside.”
asserted
guests → burst → energy
Publican James Wirth said drinking outdoors was part of the experience at the Old Fitzroy Hotel in Woolloomooloo.
asserted
drinking → say → Woolloomooloo
“At The Old Fitz and our other pubs, the pavement pint is half the point, and people standing outside on a warm summer’s evening is what people come here for, and it creates a really vibe-y atmosphere outside.
asserted
it → stand → atmosphere
In practice, the no-standing rule has not really been policed said Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller.
asserted
Miller → police → practice
“As far as I’m aware, it’s never really been enforced.
asserted
it → ’m → ?
To the best of my knowledge, council has never walked up to a person and said, ‘excuse me, you need to sit down or find some furniture’.”
asserted
you → walk → furniture
Instead, venues have been largely policing themselves so as not to be in breach of their licensing conditions.
asserted
venues → police → conditions
“We would ask people to find a table, and it’s never really been a comfortable conversation,” said Johnson.
asserted
Johnson → ask → table
“It never really made sense to us, especially when our guests are just there trying to enjoy themselves with a drink and there’s only so many tables available.”
asserted
guests → make → drink
Wirth said the rule was never enforced at The Old Fitz, where people regularly drink on the pavement, but he still welcomes the change.
asserted
he → say → change
“It’s a small change, but council deserves credit for making it,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → it
“It speaks to the fact that council is listening and respecting how people want to use these areas, and recognise that vertical drinking isn’t a safety problem.”
asserted
drinking → speak → areas
The change does not alter how alcohol is sold or served, which must still comply with each venue’s liquor licence.
asserted
which → alter → licence
Patrons can’t wander off with their drink from the venue’s designated outdoor dining areas, and standing is allowed only within its approved outdoor footprint.
asserted
standing → wander → footprint
A clear path must also remain for pedestrians, wheelchairs and prams.
asserted
path → remain → pedestrians
Miller says the bigger story is about $20 million in reforms, due to roll out over the next eight years, to expand outdoor dining spaces across Sydney.
asserted
story → say → Sydney
Pop-up dining spaces, such as those in carparks, will be made permanent, and footpaths will be extended to allow more people to be seated outside.
asserted
people → pop → carparks
Work is expected to begin in the next few months, with extended outdoor dining areas planned for Glebe, Redfern, Surry Hills, Newtown and Erskineville.
asserted
areas → expect → Glebe
“Adding paving and landscaping, and making [a] permanent area outside of restaurants can effectively double their capacity, and that will have a huge impact on business,” said Miller.
asserted
Miller → add → business
The Aporia
