By Andy Young
The Imperial Hotel in the Sydney suburb of Erskineville has been given a two week extension to lodge submissions in response to a long-term closure order.
The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority ILGA) has granted the extension after the application for closure was lodged by the Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing (OLGR).
The Imperial has been shut down for 72 hours twice in the last six weeks as a result of serious licence breeches.
The latest closure came last weekend after inspections by OLGR and NSW Police witnessed ongoing drug dealing and illicit drug use, multiple intoxicated patrons, and staff serving alcohol to intoxicated patrons.
In a statement the ILGA said: "The Authority's granting of the extension to 11 August 2015 follows an application by the premises owner who has taken possession of the property from the lessees.
"The extension has been granted on agreement by the premises owner that the hotel’s liquor licence will be placed in voluntary suspension during that period."
OLGR lodged the long-term closure order application in mid-July and if successful it would mean the hotel would be forced to close for up to six months.
The premises owner is required to not re-open the hotel without seven days' notice to ILGA, OLGR and the NSW Police Force. ILGA added that it will consider the long-term closure application within seven days of the end of the extended submission period.
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