Hugos Lounge in Sydney’s Kings Cross has been placed in voluntary administration.
Hugos Lounge in Sydney’s Kings Cross has been placed in voluntary administration after suffering a 60 per cent drop in revenue since the lock-out laws were introduced in February 2014.
The new rules mean Sydney CBD hotels, registered clubs, nightclubs and licenced karaoke bars have 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks.
Research suggests that there has been an 80 per cent decrease in foot traffic in Kings Cross from 2012 to 2014, and businesses in the entertainment area have suffered.
Recently iconic Kings Cross venue The Bourbon was sold by its owner C.inc to mix-use developer Sam Arnaout, with a view to converting it into a residential building. The Crest and Goldfish Bar in the area are also midway through a conversion into a residential tower.
Additionally Soho nightclub has closed recently and other closures include The Sapphire Lounge, The Carlisle Bar, Trademark, Beach Haus, Club Bayswater, The Village and Flinders Hotel.
The owner of Hugos Lounge, Dave Evans, has no doubt the lockout laws are to blame for the difficulties the venue faces. He told the Sydney Morning Herald, “We said it would…