Oscars Hotels has announced the closure of its George Street icon, Bar Century – but refutes that it had anything to do with lockouts or a drop in trade.
After nine years operating the sublease, Oscars is executing a make-good ahead of the lease’s conclusion at the end of the month.
Hungry Jacks upstairs has not continued its lease, and the freehold owner of the building is going to market for new tenant(s).
Despite opportunistic media jumping on the anti-lockout groundswell, Oscars confirmed to PubTIC that the closure was purely a lease expiry.
“Our tenure has been extremely exciting and we thank all our customers for helping us build Bar Century … sticky carpet, the toilets, and of course that smell – we wish we could have bottled it!
“We are unaware of who the new operator will be, but we hope they can continue the good times and build on the legacy that is Bar Century,” said the spokesperson.
In a further display of anti-lockout exuberance, Freelancer’s Matt Barrie incorrectly attributed the endorsement of City of Sydney CEO Monica Barone.
CoS today told PubTIC that while Barrie did meet with Barone, “his version of what was said in that meeting, and attributed to the City’s CEO, is not correct”.
CoS Tweeted: “@matt_barrie We support a safe, vibrant nightlife and hope the lock out trial review finds solutions.”
