Morena Restaurant - Sydney

We are pleased to have assisted the team at Morena Restaurant Sydney, with the requisite approvals to open their new restaurant in Martin Place. The BSV Liquor and Gaming team have secured an on-premises­ (restaurant and caterers service) licence endorsed with a primary service authorisation (PSA) for the budding venue, which is an increasingly common licence solution sought by many dining venues for its substantial and broad permissions.  

As part of the approval process, it was also necessary for the BSV Liquor and Gaming team to make a second application by the licensee of the adjacent licensed hotel (namely, Martin Heritage Management Pty Limited, who is the owner of the GPO Sydney Hotel) to carve out from their existing licensed area the space that would be occupied by Morena.  This is required in NSW because the NSWL&G does not permit licensed areas of different venues to overlap.  We are pleased that with our assistance both applications were approved within a short period of time following their lodgement with the NSW Liquor and Gaming.

The on-premises licence allows Morena to serve alcohol in the course of operating as either a restaurant or providing catering service, while the PSA expands the trading capabilities to permit sale of alcohol without a meal. This combination of the on-premises and PSA has become a popular option for restaurants looking to provide a holistic and distinct offering to their customers and cater to a vibrant and ravenous Sydney market.

As the State Government gradually rolls out plans to revitalise Sydney’s night-time economy under the new Vibrancy Reforms, up-and-coming restaurants should consider this type of licence as it gives broad liquor sale capabilities which are fast becoming standard for premium dining venues and allow businesses to capitalise on the expected increased restaurant demand with customers looking to more frequently dine out.

Having just recently opened in April 2024, Morena provides an elevated dining experience from Executive Chef Alejandro Saravia which shines a spotlight on the diverse cuisines from across Latin American cultures, all within Sydney’s heart at Martin Place. Under their new licence, Morena can complement their acclaimed culinary offering with an extensive range of drinks which better meets customer expectations. To learn more about how Morena’s story and what it offers in Sydney, please visit the Sydney Morning Herald’s ‘Good Food’ article here on first impressions, or a more substantive review by ‘Good Food’ here.  

If you wish to apply for your own on-premises­ licence endorsed with a PSA so your restaurant makes the most of a revitalised and vibrant new Sydney, it’s important to ensure precision and efficiency with your application. For assistance with this type of application, or for any other licensing enquiries, please contact our office via email at licensing@bsvliquorlicence.com.au or telephone at (02) 8530 0333.

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