Hamilton’s ‘The Hood’ moves
The doors, reminiscent of jaillike security cells, opened on a Friday night.
The same hip-hop and RnB songs, same drink prices, same $10 door charge, same name, and the same sign - but in a new location.
By midnight, a long queue had formed outside the distinct jet black paint job in Alexandra Street. On one side is a car dealership. There’s a Japanese restaurant on the other.
The Hood, dubbed New Zealand’s most notorious bar, lost its liquor licence at its former premises on Victoria Street. In January, the district licensing group said from April it could not serve alcohol - the police manpower cost required to operate the bar was detrimental to Hamilton.
So the owner, The Lawrenson Group, packed up and moved the nightclub around the corner and got another liquor licence.
While owner John Lawrenson says it was always the plan to move to Alexander St, he’s still appealing the decision made by the District Licensing Committee on the loss of his previous liquor licence at his former Victoria St location.
‘‘I was shocked and completely disagreed with the decision,’’ he said. ‘‘So, I will be appealing the decision due to the potential implications for future licensing decisions throughout the country.’’
On that note, he says it’s also time for a new name, and plans to change the name of the Hood in the near future.
‘‘The name was definitely a part of what attracts the attention. I wanted people who love that music know that the venue they love still exists but had moved to a new location.
‘‘But I’m sick and tired of the negative press around it and I didn’t have a better name at the time we moved.’’
Hamilton City Council city safe manager Kelvin Powell said an alcohol licence was given to the premises - not the name of a bar. He said the new application at the new location satisfied the committee and met the criteria. If a bar moves to a different location, owners are simply required to apply for a new alcohol licence.