Published Sunday, 02 December, 2007 at 05:00 AM
Treasurer
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
New boost for boutique bars
A new style of “boutique” bar will be encouraged to flourish across Queensland
by amendments to the Liquor Act, Treasurer Andrew Fraser announced today.
Mr Fraser said small bars would encourage a more eclectic mix of entertainment and operators and would be particularly popular in tourist areas.
The Liquor Act changes will remove the requirement for small establishments to serve food, allowing the development of neighbourhood bars such as in Melbourne, London and New York. Typically, these venues seat less than 60 people.
“Smaller, boutique bars allow more flexibility to cater for the many and varied sizes of communities across the state.
“They can fill a niche tailor-made to particular areas.
“People’s tastes have become more sophisticated over the years.
“The new boutique licenses will see more and more eclectic establishments open, catering to a growing clientele and allowing the growth of live music and cultural venues across Queensland.”
Mr Fraser said the new laws gave the flexibility for entertainment precincts to grow across the state.
This section of the market was set for rapid expansion as Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and other centres such as Cairns became more and more cosmopolitan.
“Boutique bars are particularly important to the tourism industry the length of the coastline. But they also enhance the ambience of any city or town and the trend is certainly toward these smaller venues as our population continues to swell.”
Media Contact Chris Taylor 0419 710 874
2 December 2007
by amendments to the Liquor Act, Treasurer Andrew Fraser announced today.
Mr Fraser said small bars would encourage a more eclectic mix of entertainment and operators and would be particularly popular in tourist areas.
The Liquor Act changes will remove the requirement for small establishments to serve food, allowing the development of neighbourhood bars such as in Melbourne, London and New York. Typically, these venues seat less than 60 people.
“Smaller, boutique bars allow more flexibility to cater for the many and varied sizes of communities across the state.
“They can fill a niche tailor-made to particular areas.
“People’s tastes have become more sophisticated over the years.
“The new boutique licenses will see more and more eclectic establishments open, catering to a growing clientele and allowing the growth of live music and cultural venues across Queensland.”
Mr Fraser said the new laws gave the flexibility for entertainment precincts to grow across the state.
This section of the market was set for rapid expansion as Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and other centres such as Cairns became more and more cosmopolitan.
“Boutique bars are particularly important to the tourism industry the length of the coastline. But they also enhance the ambience of any city or town and the trend is certainly toward these smaller venues as our population continues to swell.”
Media Contact Chris Taylor 0419 710 874
2 December 2007