Cooks Hill Residents React to Cricketers Arms’ Extended Hours Proposal

23 July 2024

Cooks Hill, Newcastle – The Cricketers Arms Hotel’s recent proposal to extend outdoor hours and increase capacity has sparked a mixed response among Cooks Hill residents. The application seeks to expand the outdoor area capacity from 82 to 300 patrons until midnight, an increase from the current limit of 10pm. Additionally, the proposal includes extending outdoor speaker music hours until midnight at reduced levels and outdoor live music hours from 9:30pm to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

The proposal also outlines changes to indoor live music, allowing performances up to the licensed hours with doors and windows closed to minimise noise. These changes aim to enhance the hotel’s entertainment offerings while balancing community concerns.

Residents Weigh In

Local resident Dave Lehy voiced his skepticism regarding the proposal. “The Traffic and Parking Assessment claims peak parking availability around the hotel is from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM on both weekdays and weekends, which supposedly frees up more spaces despite higher patronage. That’s a stretch,” he said.

Conversely, many residents expressed strong support for the proposal. Lachlan Burns commented, “Awesome! Live music would be great. Cricketers is a great local venue.” Similarly, Geoff Nattrass remarked, “More chances for local musicians to have an outlet – bring it on. Parking is definitely more available in the evenings than during the day.”

Isabel Reed and Robert O’Donnell also supported the proposal, emphasising the need for more live music venues in the area. “The more venues with live music, the better! That’s great news!” Reed said. O’Donnell added, “Absolutely support this, we need more live music venues.”

Concerns and Support

Not all feedback was positive. Beamer Graham Gregory expressed concerns about living near the venue, to which Nattrass replied, “I live nearby and don’t see any problem. The Ori had live music for years with no issues.” However, West Taitei pointed out, “That’s an unfair comparison given one is indoors and the other is open air.”

Sheridan Lang raised a pertinent question: “Why do they need to extend outdoor speaker music hours to midnight when they can have it indoors? This pub is surrounded by residential houses.” Katie Lou Lindstro countered, “The hotel has been there for a long time.”

Support for the proposal remained strong among others. Gennevieve Nicholls Vacca said, “100% support this! We definitely need more local venues with live music!” Kim Scully and Scott Grimshaw echoed this sentiment, calling the news “awesome” and a “great idea.”

Balancing Entertainment and Community

The Cricketers Arms Hotel’s proposal reflects a broader trend in Newcastle to revive live entertainment. Following a 2023 bill and new government grants supporting live music, many local pubs are seeking to extend their capacity and hours to foster a vibrant music scene.

The hotel’s application includes measures to minimise impacts on the surrounding area, such as limits on sound levels and the use of glazed windows. While some residents are enthusiastic about the potential for more live music, others remain cautious about the implications for noise and parking.

The discussion highlights the challenge of balancing the desire for vibrant local entertainment with the needs and concerns of the community. As the proposal moves forward, it will be crucial to address these concerns to ensure a harmonious outcome for all parties involved.