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Subscriber only While the cancellation of Bluesfest was devastating, one local beer company has made the most of a bad situation to help flood impacted businesses. Byron Bay Brewery, together with BluesFest will work together to help flood affected venues on the mid-north coast of NSW. The Byron Bay Brewery, the key beer sponsor of the Byron Bay BluesFest today announced that it will credit the BluesFest organisers for all of the beer for the event and send packaged stock that was to be enjoyed by festival-goers over the Easter long weekend to flood affected pubs and clubs across the state.
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Subscriber only The rollout of $100 worth of vouchers for dining, entertainment and recreation is about to get under way, and local businesses are being urged to sign up for the program. Dine & Discover NSW has been launched to encourage the community to get out and about and support dining, arts and tourism businesses . Eligible residents can apply for four $25 vouchers, worth $100 in total. This includes two Dine NSW Vouchers which can be redeemed participating at restaurants, cafes, bars, wineries, pubs or clubs. It also includes two Discover NSW Vouchers to be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues.
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Subscriber only Two of Sydney s biggest billionaire playboys might be feeling a little sorry for themselves after plans to buy the Bangalow Hotel fell through. It s understood Justin Hemmes and Stu Laundy recently made current owner Tom Mooney an offer on the pub. Mr Laundy has just bought the Lennox Hotel for $40m, teaming up with Fraser Short for the purchase, while Mr Hemmes last big buy was Randwick s Duke Of Gloucester for $32m. Despite this pedigree in the hotel industry, the Mooneys made it clear to the pair last week the Bangalow Hotel was not for sale.
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Subscriber only Bluesfest organisers have had to pay more than $90,000 to a tribunal for holding ahead of its appeal against a January ruling. Stallholders who had planned to operate at last year s festival have meanwhile called on Bluesfest to drop their NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal appeal. A group of 11 stallholders, including food and retail vendors, took Bluesfest Services Pty Ltd to NCAT in a bid to have their stallholder fees refunded. A public health order was issued shortly before the planned 2020 festival, meaning it could not go ahead. Senior NCAT member Graham Ellis ordered Bluesfest to repay $90,250.45 in January but the festival has since lodged an appeal against that decision.