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A few weeks ago we brought the very good news that Sydney officially scrapped its remaining lockout laws – the mandated policy for 3.30am last drinks being the main one – ending a decade-long era of restrictions and doom and gloom. Unfortunately, we may be taking two steps back with the news that one of the city’s most lively pubs is facing strict regulation from the police.
A Newtown icon, the Marlborough Hotel, known by locals as The Marly, has been in operation since 1860 and is one of King Street’s most recognisable pubs. Owned by hospo group Solotel, which is behind other popular venues like The Bank Hotel, The Abercrombie, Darlo Bar and more, The Marly can draw in 1,500 punters on a busy night, according to the SMH. However, due to “ongoing compliance issues” from alcohol-related incidents including assaults in the past five years, local police are now pushing the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority to introduce a range of conditions for the popular pub, such as alcohol restrictions, facial recognition cameras and dance floor limits.
Local councillors say the move would be at odds with the great strides the NSW government’s vibrancy reforms have made in recent times. These include venues no longer being able to be shut down due to a single noise complaint, the standing-while-drinking rule being scrapped, and the removal of sign-up rules at clubs and RSLs, as well as extended trading hours for venues that host live performances (to date, more than 521 venues have taken up the government’s music program – close to four times the number there were when the government stepped into office).
Jess Miller, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney, has spoken out on her Instagram, saying that if the regulations were implemented, they would “not only decimate the Marly, but completely undermine the vibrancy reforms that so many people have worked on for so long to make happen.
“Not only that, but if allowed the conditions would also undermine the Liquor Act itself, the City of Sydney's late night economy policies and the work of the @24houreconomynsw – effectively providing police with a mechanism through which to target venues.
“What's the point of @chrisminnsmp crowing about the end of the lockouts only a few weeks ago, when in practice venues who are proving to be safer over time are being targeted and punished by police based on fiction,” Miller added.
Some of the key potential conditions include:
- facial recognition throughout the venue after 9pm seven days a week (hello, Big Brother);
- one person per square metre restrictions on the dance floor (Footloose much?);
- three dedicated dance floor watchers (yeah nah).
The number of assaults that have taken place in and around The Marly in the past five years is disputed, with police saying there have been more than 90 reported incidents of assault. City of Sydney councillors say the submission is misleading, noting almost half of the reported incidents did not proceed or were withdrawn, and that there were seven incidents in 2025, down from 25 in 2023.
Police noted the venue had taken steps to cut down on alcohol-related incidents, including changing the main entrance and having some security staff wear body-worn cameras.
Miller said a motion about the conditions will come to council. The liquor authority is now set to consider the submissions before any changes would be made.
Obviously, we’re keen for a safe nighttime economy – but one person per square metre on a dance floor? It’s giving lockdown.
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