A council once touted this collapsed venue as a shining example of the local dining scene… but they rejected a request that would’ve helped it stay afloat

A restaurant trying to stay afloat after going into voluntary management has had a request to extend opening hours blocked by the council.

Billed as ‘Western Sydney’s most memorable venue’, The Orchard is a restaurant, cafe and garden bar in Penrith, approximately 60km from the city’s CBD.

Last month it announced the shock news that it had gone into voluntary administration, although it remained open for business.

It emerged on Thursday that the venue had applied in June 2023 to extend its closing time from 5pm to 10pm and increase the customer limit from 200 to 300.

But Penrith Council rejected the request, citing “significant unresolved issues” around noise pollution, according to the Daily Telegraph.

One submission made during the public exhibition period raised concerns about the impact the noise would have on the surrounding area, including a retirement village.

“The application has not demonstrated that noise impacts resulting from extended opening hours and increased visitor capacity can be mitigated,” the council’s assessment report said.

‘The proposal is not considered to be in the public interest as it has not been demonstrated that the amended development will not cause adverse noise impacts on surrounding land use.

“The amended proposal therefore does not merit support and the amendment application is recommended for rejection.”

The council had previously promoted the orchard on its website as a shining example of Penrith’s hospitality industry.

“Penrith’s dining scene has undergone a wonderful transformation in recent times, with new establishment, The Orchard, emerging as a vibrant hub for foodies,” the report said.

The restaurant’s owners thanked the community for its continued support as they announced its collapse in a social media post last month, just two years after opening.

“We are grateful for the continued support of the Penrith community and hope to continue to be a venue to celebrate your special occasions for many years to come,” The Orchard said in a statement.

‘It’s very much business as usual. Rest assured we will keep everyone informed as we go through this process.”

Administrator Graeme Beattie of bankruptcy firm Worrells described The Orchard as ‘one of Western Sydney’s best hospitality venues’.

“This decision comes after a period of challenging market conditions, including rising operating costs, changing consumer behavior and reduced discretionary spending, all of which have contributed to an unsustainable financial position,” he said.

Mr Beattie said he was carrying out an “urgent financial analysis” of the company.

“With the administration still in its infancy, I intend to continue to conduct the company’s affairs on a ‘business as usual’ basis,” he said.

Fedlallah Hallani, director of FRM Café Pty Ltd, which trades as The Orchard Penrith, said it had been “an incredibly difficult process”.

“During the government we will work closely with Mr Beattie and the Worrells team to ensure the best possible outcome for all stakeholders,” he said.

“While this is a challenging time, we remain committed to exploring all options to secure the future of the company.

“We appreciate and appreciate the continued support throughout this process.”