'Locked Out' Sydney Rock Venue To Close

12 June 2014 | 11:37 am | Scott Fitzsimons

The Square is set to become a small bar

Sydney rock room The Square will close in a month's time and be refurbished into a small bar, theMusic.com.au has learned.

The basement-style venue – located in Haymarket – has built a reputation for hosting rock and punk shows on Friday and Saturday nights, with the likes of Born Lion and Ivy St playing the room this year. The space, booked by Kimberley Tan, is part of the precinct covered under the 1.30am lockout and 3am cessation of alcohol service laws.

The restrictions reduced the venue's ability to trade long after their live music sets and at least one recent show was adversely affected as punters – and band members – left well before the 2am finishing time to ensure they were able to get into other venues before the show finished.

Managed by The Palace Hotel, the pub's General Manager was unable to disclose what the operators space planned to do with the new space or whether live music will be part of their offering.

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Gigs slated beyond 13 July – the venue has dates booked up until September – will now be moved to alternate venues.

A farewell show will take place on the final weekend.