The historic Native Rose Hotel of Rozelle has closed due to a noise complaint, as the battle of the beats between pubs and residents continues to rock and roll.
Known by several names since it opened the doors in 1878 – more than a decade before Rozelle was so named – the 144-year-old pub is located on bustling Victoria Road, just off the Anzac Bridge, and is a haven for live music.
But a post on social media tipped the Native Rose had been forced to close due to a neighbour complaint about noise from the beer garden.
One comment claimed how the pub had spent a lot of money on sound-proofing in the music room, but had been dogged by ‘one neighbor [SIC]’ who kept complaining.
Matt Younger bought the pub operation in late 2020 with business partner Kaine Costello, securing a 17-year lease, counting options.
Younger confirmed to PubTIC he has walked away, having closed the doors more than a week ago after unsuccessful attempts to save it.
“We put an application in to try and modify a few things in a DA to make it happen, and the council just took way too long with it,” he explains. “It was all just too hard for us to hold on.”
Without going into details, the first-time publican lamented things they had been forced to do and try that perhaps were not their responsibility.
Inner West Council did confirm one noise complaint, and acknowledging that they spoke with the operators “some time ago” referred to a development application to play live outdoor music.
Council says it is “working with them” as it is eager to grow the live music scene in the inner west.
Its policy on neighbours details established pubs and clubs as “integral” to the character of precincts, and that while it has an obligation to protect resident amenity, it also is responsible for supporting local businesses, and ensuring “the longevity of live music venues”.
The Native Rose Hotel was granted outdoor dining use of public open space adjoining the premises (up to 10 tables) earlier this month, but there is no decision on live music.
Many locals are said to be furious as Younger and Costello effectively hand back the keys on their dream to finally run their own pub.
While Younger says he is a “bit shy at the moment” the pair are hopeful of finding something else at some stage.
Meanwhile, the long-fought battle between an historic Newcastle pub and neighbours may finally be over, following an investigation and ruling by Liquor & Gaming.
Stockton’s Gladstone Hotel has been plagued by complaints from a party of eight local residents, citing impacts on the neighbourhood multiple times a week and during the day on weekends, including violence, property damage, and public urination.
The residents reportedly took their complaints to local police, Newcastle Council and in 2020 the NSW Local Court, which issued the pub a noise abatement order.
Complaints focused on noise from people in the beer garden and from live music, and called for a restriction to be put on patron capacity in the venue, and on amplified music outside. The group said it has spent in the region of $75k over previous years, in legal fees and acoustic tests.
In its defence, venue management spoke of doing “everything it could” in measures taken to satisfy the complaints, including doing its own acoustic monitoring tests and installing acoustic sheeting.
A hotel has been on the site since the 1800s, and has held its current license under continual operation since 1956.
On the basis that the residents should have known they would be living near a hotel, it has been cleared of any charge of creating disturbances – largely because it was there first.
Dimitri Argeres, compliance and enforcement director for Liquor & Gaming NSW, rejected the proposed measures and found insufficient evidence to conclude the neighbourhood has been unduly disturbed by the Gladstone’s general operation.
“The order of occupancy is in favour of the hotel, which has held its current liquor licence at the location for approximately 66 years.”
