EXCLUSIVE: Live Music To Return To Harold Park Hotel This Weekend

Live music is set to return to Harold Park Hotel this weekend in what is a massive win for Sydney's music scene. 

The iconic Forest Lodge-based establishment has been embroiled in controversy in recent weeks after it was forced to cull live music following a single complaint by a neighbour, though it was later discovered that the venue did not have the necessary license to host live music in its outdoor courtyard.

However, after working with the City Of Sydney, it can be exclusively revealed that live music is being brought back to Harold Park Hotel once again.

"Council have been very positive and proactive in helping us reach the point where music will recommence in a manner that complies with the law, and reduces the noise to adjoining properties," HPH owner, William Ryan, said.

"Our regular musical gurus, Sam, Pat and Alex, will be at the hotel this Sunday from 4pm."

A spokesperson for Lord Mayor Clover Moore said, "We want to see more live music in Sydney, so it's excellent our City staff have been able to work with the Harold Park Hotel and the Australian Hotels Association to get live music back up and running in the courtyard from this Sunday.
 
"They looked at potential ways to address the specific development consent condition that caused the issue for Harold Park Hotel, and strategies for working with the venue's neighbours directly to resolve any future noise issues."

Following the Harold Park Hotel incident, a Labor MP this week pushed for a policy that would allow venues to play live music without government approval, however the City has responded to the calls.
 
"The City can't make changes to development consent conditions unless a venue asks us to," the spokesperson said.
 
"We encourage venues that think they have outdated or unnecessary development consent conditions making it difficult to put on live music and performance to contact the City's Strategy Advisor for Live Music and Performance to discuss what changes can be made and what support we can offer.
 
"While we have a statutory role as a regulator and planning consent authority, we prefer to work with venues to try and resolve problems without taking regulatory action."