Hours review offers little comfort for small bars
Each Sunday at 10pm small bar owner Lloyd Smith has already called last drinks and has to force patrons to leave his Mt Lawley venue.
Mr Smith, who co-owns and manages Clarences on Beaufort Street, said he would like to stay open an hour later every day but it was closing time on Sundays when they met the most resistance from patrons.
"We have got 15 minutes to get people out the door after 10pm, so it is the day when it is hardest to get people to leave," he said.
"Fridays and Saturdays at midnight most people are ready to go, but 10pm on a Sunday is when we have to annoy people to get out of the venue.
"It would be nice for people to be able to stay out until midnight on Sunday. Not everybody has to get up to go to work."
The review of WA's Liquor Control Act, released yesterday, recommends against giving small bar operators more flexible trading hours.
The Act allows them to open until 10pm on Sundays and midnight on other days.
"I think it would be great for the development of Perth, in regards to tourism and having a vibrant nightlife, if there was some more leniency towards people who are trying to do the right thing," Mr Smith said.
"Small bars add a lot to Perth as a city. It would be positive if we had more freedom."
Small Bar Association of WA treasurer Jessica Patterson said the small bar owners would prefer to be able to trade later, particularly given their low-impact nature.
