Mitchell Waugh’s Royal Hotel at Paddington is being forced to beef up noise reduction, after shutdown-spoiled local residents complained about the pub’s patrons.
Resident complaints spoke of patron noise inside the venue and early-morning noise from trucks and rubbish collection. They also cited people, presumably from the pub, urinating outside and dumping bottles (possibly from elsewhere, given bottles can’t be taken from the bar).
Liquor and Gaming NSW investigated the alleged disturbances, including claims from a local of 21 years that “yelling and screaming” could be heard from inside.
PHMG (Public House Management Group) bought the Royal Hotel Paddington mid-2015, as part of a buying spree in the precinct.
Built 1888, the four-level pub has operated under its current license since 1960, with capacity for 600-pax and regular trading approval to midnight Monday to Saturday and 10pm Sundays. It provides a public bar, gaming room, upper-level function spaces and balcony, rooftop deck and a bottleshop.
Paddington residents are calling for operating hours to be reduced to 10pm permanently, and for all windows above ground level to stay closed.
Woollahra Council submitted evidence in the L&G investigation, noting the pub received a fine on Anzac Day 2021 for excessive crowds. A covert police operation that month reported patrons loitering near the hotel close to closing time, and what were said to be insufficient attempts by security to encourage patrons to minimise disturbances. No fines followed for apparent breaches.
In its defence, The Royal cited its ongoing plan of management to address noise, which includes regular checks by managers, and security guards outside to monitor crowds. It also stated that the windows are closed at 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights.
It argued against the resident requests, describing forced 10pm closure every night as “debilitating” and that closing windows at all times was not considered good practice anytime, let alone in the COVID-19 environment.
Defence also suggested that the long, forced shutdowns of pubs and nightlife has led to “hypersensitivity” and impatience with activity that used to be accepted as part of populous areas.
John Coady, regulatory interventions manager for L&G NSW, noted in his decision that while some noise was to be expected under normal operation, there had been times the pub had “unduly disturbed the quiet and good order of the neighbourhood”.
Coady ordered The Royal must adhere to a new plan of management, and this may still be varied further after consultation with Woollahra police.
It was stipulated that windows must be closed whenever any amplifier or speaker is used, a complaints ‘hotline’ must be posted on the outside of the building, and two security guards must be present until the last patron has left the area. The Royal must also organise for its trash and recycling to not be collected before 6am.
The Royal is the tenth pub to be fined by the regulator for noise-related breaches in the past 12 months.
