Outdoor dining bid for Kensington pub

The Rising Sun Inn hotel owner/head chef, Tom Savis. Picture: Noelle Bobrige Source: adelaidenow

A KENSINGTON pub's bid to extend its liquor licence to an outdoor dining area has been opposed by the local council.

Licensees of the Rising Sun Inn at Kensington will lodge an application with the Office of Liquor and Gambling Commissioner this week asking to be allowed to serve alcohol in the outside dining area on Bridge St.

But Norwood, Payneham & St Peters councillors objected to the extension at a Tuesday, April 2, meeting.

This follows complaints from Bridge St residents who say allowing patrons to consume alcohol outdoors will lead to unreasonable noise and disruption.

The Liquor Commissioner has the final say, but the council was given an opportunity to comment on the application. The council granted owners Michael and Thomas Savis a permit to set up an unlicensed outdoor dining area last December and voted last week to renew the permit in June.

Councillor Vincent Tarzia told the meeting it would be inappropriate to allow alcohol in the outdoor area.

"It's entirely surrounded by residential properties and I believe something like this would cause residents an enormous amount of harm," Cr Tarzia said.

Bridge St resident, John Legg said he was happy with the council's decision. "We are all delighted the council will not be supporting the landlord's application for the serving of alcohol on the footpath outside the Rising Sun Inn," Mr Legg said.

"We hope that this clear message is heeded when the application goes to the Liquor and Gambling Commission."

Thomas Savis declined to comment last week because he was yet to be notified of the decision.

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Bracegirdles, wine bar for Kensington theatre

THE Regal Theatre's shopfronts will be transformed into a wine bar and Bracegirdles cafe.

The news comes as Republic Theatres celebrates a year since it took over the Kensington Rd theatre, formerly the Chelsea Cinema.

The cinema operator will spend $30,000 transforming the eastern shopfront into a wine bar, which will cater for 50 patrons and be available for functions.

Plans for the wine bar are awaiting approval from the theatre's owner Burnside Council.

Bracegirdles, which runs a popular cafe a few doors down from Republic Theatres' Trak Cinema at Toorak Gardens, will open at the theatre by the end of March.

Regal Theatre co-managing director Michael Todd was confident the wine bar and cafe would attract more customers to the heritage-listed theatre.

"The marriage at the Trak between local food retailers and cafes is a complementary relationship we enjoy," Mr Todd said.

"We see the same happening here.

"We're in the process of re-imagining this part of Kensington Rd as a high-street precinct."

Mr Todd was looking forward to embarking on a new year after a `challenging' 12 months.

"The first half of the year was really good then May, June and July was quiet - it was soft here and everywhere in the industry," he said.

But he said theatre had been very busy since October thanks, in part, to its hosting of live performances and charity events.

Republic Theatres spent about $20,000 on production equipment last year, including lighting and sound systems, so the venue could host live performances.

It has signed up as an Adelaide Fringe Festival venue this year.

It will also move to digital screenings by the end of March.

Burnside Council spent $85,000 upgrading the theatre's facade after Republic Theatres took over the cinema's lease from long-term operators Wallis last February.
 

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