As the city undergoes a foodie renaissance, more eateries are hoping to cash in by keeping their doors open later and serving alcohol.
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Ballarat City Council will consider two liquor licences at the next ordinary general meeting on March 14.
In December, council had five applications for licences for venues located north of Sturt Street alone.
The 100 per cent gluten-free Ballarat Wholefoods Cafe on Sturt Street has applied for a liquor licence after almost three years of trade.
Council officers recommended the establishment receive a liquor licence for up to 66 patrons on the premises in a report tabled to the meeting.
Ballarat Wholefoods Cafe owner Megan Bond said the business had missed out on some patrons during the Cycling Australia Road National Championships in January due to not serving alcohol.
If permitted to serve liquor, the cafe will open on Friday and Saturday nights, in order to provide an evening dining option for those with specific dietary requirements.
We noticed we do miss out on social lunch and business lunch trade, because people really want to have a glass of wine or a beer with their meal
- Megan Bond, Ballarat Wholefoods Cafe owner
“Ballarat has three health food cafes, but they’re just open in the day time,” she said.
“You get to dinner time, and people are struggling to find that food option, including vegan meals.
“Right now people who come from out of town and want dinner are really stuck for stuff to eat.”
Ms Bond said if the liquor licence was approved, the cafe would stay true to its dietary requirement-friendly roots, stocking a number of high-quality gluten free beers and wines for patrons.
The Pub with Two Names, formerly the Peter Lalor Hotel, has also applied for a general liquor licence for the front area of its premises, a restaurant for 120 people.
Council officers recommended the establishment receive a liquor licence, noting in a report that while there are already a significant number of licensed premises in the area, it was “expected and anticipated within the Ballarat CBD”.
