The John Curtin Hotel says a proposed expansion to Melbourne’s smoke-free zones, which will include the beloved pub and live music spot, will severely impact the venue’s business and ability to host live music.
The venue, located on Carlton’s bustling Lygon Street, not far from RMIT university, regularly hosts up-and-coming local bands and artists, as well as visitors from interstate, and does not have a beer garden.
“As I am sure you’re aware, we don’t have a beer garden,” Curtin Hotel operator Ben Russell told Beat. According to Russell, agents and bands will be unlikely to put on shows in a venue where no one is able to smoke.
“This is going to make the likelihood of agents and bands putting their shows in this venue pretty slim, knowing their punters, engineers and the bands themselves can’t have a dart,” Russell told Beat.
According to Beat, Melbourne City Council’s proposed ban would force Curtin patrons to walk two blocks in order to have a cigarette. Russell would like to see the greater live music community speak up.
“I am pleading with the music community who believe in The Curtin to take ten minutes out of your time, and fill in the questionnaire provided by the Council,” he said. The survey is currently available on the official council website.
According to the website of RMIT, the university is supporting the City of Melbourne’s initiative in line with their own smoke-free policy. They would like to see a total ban on smoking on the footpaths around RMIT’s CBD campus.
RMIT’s smoke-free initiative extends to all RMIT property, including all land, buildings, car parks, vehicles, facilities, and “other property owned or leased by or under the control of the University”.
