The Tote in Collingwood is to re-open in six weeks it was announced this afternoon.
The re-opening was trumpeted at a closed-shop press conference at the storied rock venue.
Closed to patrons
since January, the musty pub hosted talk this afternoon of an opening night street festival to celebrate the return of music to what the new operators call 'the premier rock room in the country.' It is not certain yet whether it will retain the name. Its new operators are awaiting word from former licensees Bruce and James Milne about the use of the ‘Tote’ name. The Milne pair own the name.
John Brumby attended the conference, but was coy about the prospect of real, lasting changes to the controversial 'high risk conditions' applied to live music venue liquor licenses around the city. A shift in regulations may be all that is needed, rather than new legislation. The imminent departure of Sue Maclellan from the chief Liquor Licensing role may also provide a more music-friendly figure in the chair.
The new proprietors, Andrew Portokallis and Jon Perring, will immediately apply for the 'high risk conditions' to be removed.
Perring has been visible as a player in the live music accord negotiations with the Brumby government. It was the closure of the Tote early in 2010 that galvanised many musicians and gig-goers to
protest the onerous requirements of ‘high risk conditions’. Milne claimed that the Tote could not sustain the employment of extra security guards and other costs associated with the classification. Milne later admitted to
Crikey that looming debts also played a role in the venue's closure. In particular, a $75,000 debt stemming from a failed deal to provide beer for the bankrupt Blueprint festival was said to have pushed Milne to close the venue.
In the months since, Perring has argued for a more nuanced policy, one that would allow for bar-by-bar exemptions -- or a complete rolling back of these conditions. Perring and Portokallis are familiar to the scene, being current operators of Bar Open, Pony and Yah Yah’s.
The hotel will be refitted up before re-opening. The venue has been gutted since the last patrons exited in January. Only a few bar fixtures remain.
The new operators thanked the owners – Colonial Leisure Group – for resisting the temptation to sell the site to developers. Colonial Leisure Group owns a variety of venues in Victoria and Western Australia, including Bimbo Deluxe and Lucky Coq, two former music venues (Punters Club and Duke of Windsor, respectively). Local Labor member Richard Wynne is also said to have played an integral role in getting the venue open again. Wynne's marginal seat may fall at the next election, so he needs the cache associated with reinstating the beloved venue.
No word yet on who will play the opening night. But expect something massive and emotional.
Again.
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Ben Gook