Hotel wants longer hours for bistro, dance club

Newcastle hotel MJ Finnegans says extending the trading hours of its bistro will ensure it is complying with its development consent.

MJ Finnegans, which is currently on the state's most violent venues list, has applied to the Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing to extend the trading hours of its bistro and dance club.

The application says the extension will align the trading hours of the two areas with the rest of the hotel.

MJ Finnegans in King Street, Newcastle

Currently the bistro trades to midnight, but an extension would see it open until 1:30am on Fridays and 2:30am on Saturdays and Sundays.

The hotel is also seeking to extend trading of its dance club from 10:00pm to midnight on Sundays.

In its application, the hotel says extending the trading hours of the bistro supports its harm minimisation plan by encouraging patrons to eat while consuming alcohol.

The hotel says having a substantial meal available for patrons is a requirement of its development consent when the hotel is open past midnight.

Despite several consecutive appearances on the violent venues list, the hotel says based on its recent trading history it will not be on the list at the next review.

Source: ABC News, 4 February 2013