Polaroids Of Androids

And there's a twitter as well: http://twitter.com/savethehoey

savethehoey twitter

Glad I got my last overpriced plastic cup full of beer before they shut the place down. Too soon? (At least I got to play a "gig" in the place albeit over 10 years ago).

NEWT 4 LYFE!!!

According to the Save The Hoey Twitter it was shut down because of "ongoing issues with noise, - Facilitate disabled, - Sprinklers (fire)" ... as well as being in violation of the council requirement that the venue must have two licensed security guards on at all live shows

There has also been a blog set-up with a letter/petition to Clover Moore to step in and save the venue

A letter from the owner/director of the hotel (Evan) has just popped up in this M+N thread...

To whom it may concern,

Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Hopetoun Hotel we need to carry out significant works associated with Local Council requirements which necessitate the closing of our venue until further notice.

We regret to advise that we must therefore cancel all future shows booked to play at the Hopetoun as from today.

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding at this difficult time.

Should you have any queries or wish to discuss any matter please contact Anastasia at the following:

Email: ckipl@bigpond.com Phone: 0402 490 859

Yours sincerely,

EVANGELOS PATAKAS Director

most importantly... any word on the Casiotone show scheduled for November 8.. ????

don't you think they'd be able to spell the name correctly of their own hotel in the note?! Hopetoun, not Hopetown..

yeh.. fairly 'hands on' owner??

the smashing pumpkans are closed until further notice
...
Evan / Billy Corgan

Sad news. Hopefully things get sorted.

The latest news is that it will be closed for a minimum of 3 months to complete extensive works so the venue meets council standards, but that the venue is expected to open again thereafter.

I have read the mayor's reponse to the closure of the Hopetoun Hotel. It may have been a "management decision" but there are serious questions about whether the council is in fact a supporter of live band music in the inner Sydney, its traditional heartland. In fact, the council is opposed to all band venues - that is why they saddle them with expensive and unnecessary regulations - to make it unprofitable to operate. They should be trying to HELP! There could hardly have been a safer or more orderly hotel than the Hoey. There would be many, many ratepayers who are angry their rates are being used to persecute live music venues in this town.

I have only lived in Sydney for four months now, and the Hopetoun Hotel has actually been one of the friendliest and warm places that I've seen. If anyone from council reads this, please don't let venues like this slip away. It's small things like this which gives neighborhoods a sense of place and identity. I was shocked when I heard that the roller coaster at Luna Park is shut down after 9 PM because of noise complaints of NEW homeowners nearby. Establishments such as these should be grandfathered into being allowed to operate provide the community with healthy entertainment.

Who am I? A landscape architect and city planner from the states with 20 years of experience. Save your city before it crumbles away.