The Hoey...Gone

[Alex28]

Sad, sad news for Sydney music. The Hopetoun in Surry Hills is no more. Seen many a gig there - besides the Annandale there are no pubs better for live music in Sydney.

Might be back but the talk is it will cost too much to comply with new laws. Such a shame...

 

[CC_Eagle]

WHAT!?

Surely you jest?

One of my good mates bands have become near regulars there over the past month or so. As a result I've begun appreciating what a fantastic venue it is.

I hope this remains a rumor.

 

[Alex28]

Sign on the front door:

There is a thread here with all the details.

 

[Danger]

That's a shame... A damn shame.

 

[Danger]

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142845142317

Save the Hoey facebook group.

 

[CC_Eagle]

*Joined*

What a depressing few days for music.

The Hoey closed and the worst BDO lineup ever.

May as well move to f*cking Melbourne.

 

[JediMind]

It will be closed for 3 months will they upgrade it should then reopen

Speaking to M+N following yesterday’s abrupt closure, the spokesperson said that extensive works were required to meet council standards, but that the venue is expected to open again thereafter.
“The works required are to make the pub compliant with fire ordinance and other conditions connected with the operation of the pub as a venue,” she said. “We have had notice for several months, however the work is extensive and cannot be done while the pub is trading.”

http://www.messandnoise.com/news/3761449

 

[Alex28]

I've heard the owners don't have the cash to do the work, and also they can't keep up the bands at the skinny margins they make on bands to cover the security they are supposed to have...

 

[sydraider]

They had BECKS on tap... tragedy.

 

[Alex28]

Hoey Update - things don't look all that good. The pub is apparently for sale, owners are in dispute with each other, can't afford the security required (let alone the fines incurred for not having them). Getting rid of their poker machines was a dumb move - I know some people like pubs with no pokies, however more people love pokies and they are an absolute essential for a hotel these days.

I know what M+N said yesterday but that all sounds hopeful at best. I think they are putting the mandatory stuff in to prepare for a sale. Sad news is we are already in a depressed hotel market and a pub with no poker machines is going to struggle to sell.

 

[Twizzle]

its a real shame but live gigs could soon be a thing of the past

the better the band the more they cost, good bands get up to $10K or even $15K a night

a DJ playing woof woof music to kids on E can cost even less than $1K so its a no brainer for the publicans unless they are in it for their love of live bands and even then they cant make a profit

very sad

 

[phonetic]

Have played a few gigs at the Hopetoun in my time, sort of sad to see it go. That's life though. People have better things to do than see live music nowadays.

There's no point signing useless online petitions FFS, go see gigs and this doesn't happen. It's simple.

 

[Southernsaint]

Even though I live O/S now, this hurts, hurts bad.

I have had so many good times there, seeing bands like Dave McCormack and the Polaroids, heckling Davey Lane from The Pictures:

"Any requests??"

Berlin Chair!!"

"f**k off!!"

Vale Hopey...

 

[Alex28]

It's pretty much dead - looks like it will be sold to property developers

What's even worse is rumour has it the Annandale may go the same way...

 

[OVP]

I wouldnt be able to count the bands ive seen there. Far too many. It's like losing your best friend

Agreed Twiz ... a pox on those doof-doof venues !!

 

[OVP]

It's pretty much dead - looks like it will be sold to property developers

What's even worse is rumour has it the Annandale may go the same way...

f**k please not the Annandale too ... does the Landsdowne still have live bands ? That would be one of the last remaining if so.

WTF is wrong with kids today ... stop listening to that rap & doof doof sh*t and go and support local music ffs. I remember when i was in my 20s it was seen as un-Australian to not go see 20 live bands a year. Now it seems like noone cares anymore. For shame Sydney, for shame.

 

[snoozer]

What's even worse is rumour has it the Annandale may go the same way...

i heard that and i hope it's not true.