More areas seeking 'cool' post-pandemic nightlife boost

Following in the footsteps of one of the world's "coolest" neighbourhoods, more than a dozen NSW councils are looking to build specialised precincts as city nightlife bounces back from the pandemic doldrums.

Enmore Road in Sydney's inner west became the state's first "special entertainment precinct" in 2022, providing businesses with later trading hours, extended footpath dining and looser noise restrictions to back live performances.

It helped the precinct earn a nod as one of Time Out magazine's "coolest neighbourhoods", featuring on a list alongside suburbs in Amsterdam, Madrid, Los Angeles and New Orleans.

Time Out described Enmore as "where it's at after dark … whether you're after international flavours, live music, comedy or a party that stretches into the wee hours".

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Eighteen other NSW councils, including the City of Sydney, Burwood, Northern Beaches and Waverley, want to make the most of the same rules to set up their own districts, the state government said on Wednesday.

Inner West Council is doubling down after Enmore's success, seeking to start another six projects including two in Marrickville and others in Leichhardt, Balmain, Rozelle and Dulwich Hill.

Night-time Economy Minister John Graham said the success of the program was a huge win after Sydney's long-standing lockout laws and a brutal run for the entertainment sector through the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The success in Enmore proves Sydney can have both a safe and a vibrant nightlife, catering for a wide range of ages, tastes and budgets," he said.

"This is part of the government's wider vibrancy agenda which is about rebuilding the night-time economy block by block, neighbourhood by neighbourhood … the success in Enmore shows that we're well and truly on the way."

The minister pointed to an Inner West survey showing 83 per cent support for the precinct among local residents.

The state government in October announced a major overhaul of live-music regulations to make it easier for venues to host events and more difficult for noise complaints to shut them down.

Venues hosting live music are allowed to trade two hours longer under streamlined licensing laws introduced under the changes.