By Ian Neubauer
A unique water-only bar with live entertainment is being trailed in Melbourne to provide sanctuary for late-night revellers locked out of licensed venues under the city’s 2:00am curfew.
Built alongside the Onesixone nightclub in the inner-city suburb of Prahran, the Smart Water Bar features mod grass flooring and lush green surrounds with capacity for approximately 50 people. Revellers can lounge around, dance to music provided by DJs and purchase a new range of vitamin-infused mineral waters made by Spring Valley.
“With the onset of new lock-out laws, Melbourne has been faced with a late night dilemma that has literally left many people out in the cold. Stepping in to breach the gap, the Smart Water Bar will offer a late night venue and a healthy alternative to alcohol,” said a spokesperson for the bar.
The Smart Water Bar will trade from 5:00pm to 3:00am from Thursday to Saturday for a four-week trial period ending September 5.
The period coincides with the conclusion of a largely unpopular three-month trial lockout that saw most licensed premises in Melbourne’s inner city ordered to refuse entry to patrons after 2:00am. The Victorian Government is yet to announce whether the lockout will be made permanent.
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