The Flinders Hotel to Close, Blaming Lockouts

Peace, love and picklebacks, another Sydney venue has decided to throw in the towel. This time, it's the long-loved Darlinghurst bar, The Flinders. Announcing their closure on Facebook this evening, the owners have directly blamed the lockouts for the closing of doors.

"It's been a good run but Barry got us in the end," the team posted at 6pm. "We know it's sudden but please come in tonight and pour one out for your fallen homie. Thanks for all the good times. Peace, love, and picklebacks, from all of us at the Flinders."

This announcement comes just months after Kings Cross venue The Backroom directly blamed the Barry O'Farrell-led government and their lockout legislation for the closure, prompting the controversial (and let's be honest, straight-up jerk-style) #notearsshed response from the former Premier.

Jason Ryan, owner of The Flinders, talked to us about the lockouts in January 2014 after the opening of The Hide wine bar upstairs. When asked about how the bar would be affected by the proposed legislation changes (i.e. the lockouts), Ryan already knew the impact on the hotel. "We have already begun the awful task of reworking rosters and cutting back staff in preparation. The effects on our business will be dramatic … The Flinders is a safe and well-established late-night venue. We have also just invested large amounts of money into trying to develop The Hide, our new bar upstairs."

"At the moment we are reliant on the cash flow from late-night business to support and pay for this investment," he said. "Now that late-night trade is being severely compromised, it’s a real worry as to whether we can sustain cash flow over the next few months whilst developing the rest of the business. This may ultimately jeopardise the future of The Hide. We hope people we still turn out in force at The Flinders for the lock-in!"

The Flinders are shutting up shop super speedily, even holding a closing party tonight on Thursday, January 8. This seems a super fast closure for such a longtime Sydney bar. Very sad stuff.

Throw back a few Picklebacks with the Flindies crew tonight at 63-65 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst.