The " Pop-up bar " concept !

New South Wales eased it's draconian liquor laws to encourage cafes to serve wine with meals and to encourage small, intimate bars to compete with the big clubs and old hotels with their decors little changed from the old days of the " Six O'Clock swill ".   Getting a liquor license used to be a time consuming and costly journey through the labrynth of red tape.

This law change opened the doors for bright people to try new concepts, and one of these was the " Pop-Up bar " idea that found favour in many other places.    It involved the creation of a temporary venue that existed for a short period of time - usually somewhere between eight and sixteen days, and which presented an  interesting theme to create " buzz " and pack in the customers.   This time around the Pop-Up bar might present an art show. Next it might be the turn of somebody's contemporary music to arouse it's followers interest.   The idea was to be always " different " - and never go " stale " because it always existed for just a short period of time.

Unfortunately it has run into problems here in Wollongong.  To succeed, the organizers need to find a constant stream of available venues scattered across the city, and not all of these are suitable or meet the standards required by the licensing laws.   One of the stumbling blocks revolves around the expected number of patrons.  What would be suitable for a gathering of a dozen people might pose a huge danger if well over a hundred turned up, and that would bring into focus matters such as the number and location of exits, the buildings fire safety arrangements - and if liquor is involved - provision of toilets.

Usually a Pop-Up bar creates a fill-in while a building is between leases or is awaiting structural modification. It may have previously been a shop or perhaps offices, but this new concept most likely packs in a vastly greater number of patrons - and brings it under new planning rules.   Obviously, it would be uneconomic to create new entrances, meet fire safety standards and install additional toilets for the short period it would be a bar - and which would not be necessary when it reverts to it's former use.

There is a tendency to hope that the consent authorities will lower the rules because of the short nature of the intended use, but this would be a huge mistake.   A fire disaster can be both sudden and catastrophic . A crowd trying to escape and finding their way barred by an exit door swinging inwards can result in multiple deaths,  The loss of electricity powering lights can leave people confused and helpless when lit exit signs are not provided, and the very structure of buildings has an impact on how they would perform in a fire scenario.

The Pop-Up bar concept is a great idea.  Now it rests on the ingenuity of it's proposers to think through the obstacles and custom fit the concept.  Perhaps there are not enough suitable indoor venues in this city and it would be better served in an outdoor setting, great in summer and served by those mobile gas heaters common in alfresco dining areas in winter.

Obstacles are simply challenges those with brighter minds overcome on their path to success !