Key features
A pop-up licence…
- Allows you to sell or supply liquor for consumption at a temporary pop-up bar or event.
- Allows you to sell or supply liquor for tastings, and take-away liquor, at off-site pop-up promotions if you are already a NSW licensed producer.
- Allows your pop-up bar to operate over a maximum period of 12 weeks (which may or may not run on consecutive days during that period).
The licence may be used for smaller-scale pop-up bars and events that have a beneficial social or economic impact on the community by:
- activating or revitalising local places and spaces, or
- encouraging more diverse and vibrant social, cultural or business activities in the night-time economy, or
- encouraging outdoor dining to create vibrant local communities and additional opportunities for business.
Pop up bar
- sale/supply of liquor is the primary activity
- sale/supply of liquor for consumption on premises only
- patron capacity must not exceed 100 at any time
- trading hours may be approved between 10am and 12am on any day.
Pop up event
- sale/supply of liquor is ancillary to an event
- sale/supply of liquor for consumption on premises only
- patron capacity must not exceed 300 at any time
- trading hours may be approved between 8am and 12am on any day.
Pop up promotion
- allows NSW licensed producers, such as craft brewers and wineries, to showcase their products
- sale/supply of liquor for consumption on premises for the purposes of tastings only
- sale/supply for the purposes of takeaway.
At a pop-up promotion, products cannot be:
- a drink designed to be consumed rapidly (e.g., a "shot", "shooter", or "bomb")
- a ready to drink beverage with an alcohol by volume content of more than 5%.
The current fee is set out in the Liquor Fee Schedule.
- Trading hours for a pop-up licence are determined by the Authority
- Refer to relevant pop-up type for trading hours
- In special circumstances, the Authority may approve later trading up to 2am.
How to apply
All applications must be submitted no later than 28 days before the event start date.
You must be 18 years or older and authorised to lodge this licence application.
- Outline of the licensed boundary (where people can drink)
- Entry/exit points
- Points of sale/supply of liquor (all bars)
- Streets adjoining the licensed boundary
- A key if using any symbols.
See the Conditions form
See pop-up licence application form (PDF 845.16KB)
- Complete digitally or print and write each section clearly before scanning.
- The application requests details such as the social and economic benefit of the event, monitoring intoxication, security, food, and alcohol volumes.
Once you have prepared all required documents, email to functions.applications@liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au
After you apply
- The application will be on the Liquor and Gaming Application Noticeboard for a minimum of 14 days.
- Our team will begin assessing as soon as we are able and contact you if needing more information.
If approved
- Ensure you have the appropriate signage to display at your event (link to signage).
- Print your licence document - it must be viewable at the event.
- Ensure your event also meets requirements of other legislation, for example Council.
Contact us at Liquor & Gaming NSW
We welcome your feedback, enquiries and complaints about us or a licensed business.
Phone: 1300 024 720 Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm
Email: contact.us@liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au
Contact us online: Contact us form
Our website: www.nsw.gov.au/liquorandgaming