If you asked a Sydneysider 20 years ago, York, Clarence and Kent Streets were a hotspot for business professionals from nine to five. Today? The parallel-running roads play host to a thriving nightlife scene that’s so well thought out that it’s scored global recognition.
It’s been dubbed a Purple Flag precinct, joining the likes of more than 90 fun-filled and accessible areas after-dark around the world. Looking forward to spending your next night out in the YCK Laneways? You can plan a digital itinerary for the night ahead on the YCK Laneways website.
To reach Purple Flag status, an area has to tick off some important criteria points. Local stakeholders like hospitality venues and businesses work with the local and state government plus other groups like the police and liquor accords to make the precinct as inviting and lively as possible.
From 6pm to 6am, you can rest assured that your wellbeing has been put front-of-mind at YCK Laneways. Through proactive licensing and a collective approach from venues working together to look out for the precinct, teams across the district actively keep an eye on the night, step in early if needed, and help keep things running smoothly so everyone can enjoy themselves (while keeping alcohol-related violence low). Plus, thanks to the WOOM project, you’ll find free period care producst across 14 venues. Because we all deserve to enjoy a night out in a clean, safe and inclusive zone.
To become a Purple Flag precinct, you’ve got to have a pretty cool range of offerings that are diverse and inclusive enough. At YCK Laneways, that looks like galleries, contemporary dining spots like Esteban for a romantic dinner date, award-winning bars like The Barber Shop servicing all your gin needs, cool basement spots like Burrow Bar and Stitch Bar for mid-week happy hours with friends. The street art alone is enough to captivate, including the colourful 21 metre-high 'Eternity' mural commissioned by the owner of Papa Gede’s Bar and the The 'Torch Carrier' mural that overlooks the courtyard of Since I Left You.
Discovering the area’s secret doors, clever use of public spaces and adjoining laneways is a lot easier when said spaces are well-lit and pedestrian-friendly at all hours of the night. The Lightstream Project is a case in point with motion-sensored lights that illuminate the walkways for passersby. When you spend a night out in the YCK Laneways, you know that there are major transport stops nearby like Town Hall and Wynyard train stations and the light rail.
It’s no accident that YCK Laneways got awarded Purple Flag status. The community has worked hard to make this happen – in fact there’s a whole community group dedicated to the vision of the precinct. Locals, business owners, government agencies, and community members collaborate to uphold the ideal of a 24-hour economy. We like the sound of that, Sydney!