No meal means no drink at the corner pub

As the SSH goes to print, the Berkley’s license is going before the Licensing court with the owners planning to transfer it to the Gaelic Club on Devonshire Street.

If successful, the change will mean that the Berkley, according to the manager, “will become a bar and grill” with “no pokies and no bottle shop”.

While the Berkley, which has been in Chippendale for almost 100 years, will remain where it is, many in the local community don’t want their local pub to become a restaurant.

A petition to prevent the license change has attracted 400 signatures from members of the community who regularly drink there.

Shayne Dryden, a resident of the area for 19 years, has been representing the community at the licensing court. “The reason that we’re objecting is that it’s going to be detrimental to the community that it’s leaving, rather than the one it is going to,” he told the SSH.

“We’re taking the stand that it’s a link between the Aboriginal community and the white community in the area, and there’s been no consultation with the community. This is all about greed”, he said.

For regulars, it will mean that a quiet drink will now have to be accompanied by a meal.

Ginger, 42, has lived in the area all her life, and told The Herald “As a pub the Berkley is the hub of the community black yellow white or brindle, every one goes there.”

She has seen many corner pubs disappear over the years. “I used to drink at the Thurless before it closed,” she said. Her husband Terry, another Berkley regular, said, “I originally used to drink at the old Britannia, and then called Darlington, on Cleveland Street before that also closed”.

While the Berkley will not close, changing it to a bar and grill might force drinkers elsewhere - with fewer and fewer options left for a quiet drink.

Shayne Dryden advised The South Sydney Herald that he had received a fax from the Berkeley’s solicitor, stating they are asking the registrar for an adjournment till February 5th, to allow the Social Impact statement process to be finalised by the licensing board.

Seems there might be a few hold-ups due to objections at the Gaelic Club end.

Source: South Sydney Herald December 2006