Lock-out a nightmare

Lock-out a nightmare

The 2 to 5am lock-out system has been described as chaotic by patrons after its first Saturday night in action, but police say it’s been a success.

The lock-out, whereby certain clubs and pubs can’t admit more patrons between the designated times, was introduced by the NSW Government to curb alcohol-related violence and affects four Oxford St gay venues -” Arq, Stonewall, Phoenix and the Oxford Hotel.

But two weeks after the system’s introduction, patrons and licensees are doubtful about its effectiveness, saying it forces people into the street.

Regular clubgoer Will Thompson said Oxford St was a nightmare on early Sunday morning as patrons scrambled to get into clubs and bars just before the lock-out began.

We were at Stonewall until about twenty to two and I wanted to go to Arq because I didn’t want to stay at Stonewall the whole night. But when we went up there the line was massive -” I haven’t seen a line like that since Mardi Gras, he told Sydney Star Observer.

Thompson and his friends eventually found out the club’s security guards were only letting in people with stamps. In the end they gave up. [W]e went back to Stonewall before two because we thought -˜we’re not going to get in anywhere’ but when we went back to Stonewall they weren’t letting anyone in there either!

The 2 am period was a nightmare on Oxford Street, according to Thompson, with hordes of frustrated patrons stuck on the street. The street itself was so busy because there were so many people being locked out -” even before 2 o’clock.

It was ridiculous and so many people were drunk or whatever and they were all out on the street at 2am whereas normally they’d be in clubs.

The mood inside clubs was also affected by the lock-out, according to DJ Nick Jay. Jay usually works on Sunday mornings but had last week off and decided to check out the new system.

I was at Arq from 12 to 3, he said. I think people aren’t as comfortable -” there’s drink restrictions and police wandering in the club. I think people feel controlled and like they’re being watched.
Jay said the club was full by a quarter to two, causing screaming matches between patrons and security guards.

Arq owner Shadd Danesi said he was now advising his patrons to come to the club early to have a better chance of being admitted. He said the lock-out had led to very long lines outside Arq on Saturday night, but he praised the behaviour of patrons.

There was no violence outside Arq. Needless to say there was a large crowd we had to turn away, he said. Both Danesi and Jay said that some patrons seemed unaware that the lock-out was starting last weekend.

Danesi said the new system had been difficult to deal with but the business was working hard to comply with the new laws. He’s not sure if he’ll have to employ more security guards to deal with the consequences of the lock-out. …[I]t’s a learning curve, we’ll be watching it very carefully and see what we have to do.

Surry Hills Police Commander Donna Adney said the first weekend of the lock-out had been successful. The patrons handled it well, the venues handled it well so at this early stage I would say it’s looking quite positive.

Adney said she had not received any reports about increased crowds on the street despite more police being deployed to the area on Saturday night. I don’t think there were any more people out than normal and it wasn’t a worse situation than we normally face.

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19 responses to “Lock-out a nightmare”

  1. I went to the Shift a couple of weeks ago at 10pm on a Saturday night and the place was empty! Twenty years ago it would have been empty too, but only because we poofies had had dinner out, had a few drinks, had a dance already and were home shagging by then!

    If you leave a club between 2am and 5am you’re probably not enjoying yourself and probably won’t enjoy yourself somewhere else. Really, its time to go home!

    Healthy happy gay lads need less piss & drugs and more spleep. Wholesome is handsome! hehe

  2. I’m from brisbane and have been living in sydney 18months. I was working in a club in bris when the 3am lockout system was introduced and it was a pain for a while but ppl got used to it…The valley in brisbane has the main gay venues amoungst others and although it’s smaller than oxford st… there’s still a couple of cab ranks with security set up on weekends at ‘stupid o’clock’ so patrons can get home and not struggle with other intoxicated ppl for a cab, not to mention struggle with convincing a cabbie to take them home…since when can the cabbie drive off if he doesn’t like the destination you need to go to..?

  3. Oxford Street was scary a long time before the lockout came into place. If anything the street is actually less scary when the lockout is in force. Unfortunately a few years ago Oxford Street turned into this 24 hour binge drinking party zone. The large number of poorly managed straight venues and fast food outlets have virtually destroyed the street. It doesn’t mean we have to tolerate it though.

    To the person that said they missed the lock out at the Colombian – you need to get better informed! The lock out does not apply to the Colombian

  4. In California all bars must stop serving alcohol at 2am.

    The good news is it moves the pick up hour much earlier in the evening, instead of the 3.30-4.30am rush.

    Very civilised, I reckon. A stray root and a good night’s sleep.

  5. the new lock out laws suck!

    i just missed lock out at columbian, after waiting forever for a cab in martin place! it sucks!

    its awful!

  6. I agree with Mark – the sex on premises places are making a mint now with the lockout times, was in headquarters on Sat, its always usually busy but now its just overly packed!! (wich isnt a bad thing)

  7. I think they should get rid of the lockout system Oxford st is just plain scary now – Can somone please also get rid of the straight clubs? its so sad seeing all the gay guys/boys walking nervously past the straight clubs.

  8. I don’t buy the civil liberties argument when it comes to the new liquor legislation changes. In my opinion civil liberties exist when people take responsibility for themselves and their actions. Walk down Oxford Street on a Saturday night over the last few years and you will clearly see this has not been the case. Hence the need for stronger laws including the 2am lockout and other measures

  9. If they’re going to keep this stupid lockout system put a cab rank in with guards monitoring the rank not dumping people out on the street unable to get out of there.

  10. LOL, Really I had to laugh…….some of you people really dont have lives.
    Dont you have anything better to do with your money and life than fight to go into a nightclub .
    Dont you have mortgages to pay off?
    What do youse all do,use your credit cards.?
    I mean i understand younguns at 18 19yo but really….its time to grow up .
    Bring on the recession again i say.

  11. If your still out at 2am your an BOOZE HAG!

    GET A LIFE PEOPLE….silly gay men with the “Peter Pan Complex” who despite their age never seem to grow up, SAD!

    ARQ is a dump anyways…LOL

  12. That photo is a sad reflection on our society that we are such alcoholics that we can’t even go for 10 minutes waiting for a drink! Come on, it’s just ten minutes, we wait longer for a bus or train to arrive in this city!

  13. “Adney said she had not received any reports about increased crowds on the street despite more police being deployed to the area on Saturday night. -œI don’t think there were any more people out than normal and it wasn’t a worse situation than we normally face.”

    So if its not a worse situation than you normally face, then what is the point?????

  14. The lock out system is going to create chaos and ruin oxford st even further. It took me over and hr to get a cab out of oxford due to the increased number of people being locked out of clubs and bars. I ended up having to bribe a cabbie with $50 to take me home

  15. The “Sex on premises” places i.e Bodyline will be the new nightclubs where patrons think stuff this im going out to pick up and have a good time but these lockout hours are no good,stuff it i,ll go direct to bodyline around 2am,they all do it anyway.