Fun police residents try to stop expansion and live music plans of Commodore Hotel in McMahons Point, North Sydney

Residents of an upmarket suburb are trying to prevent a local pub from expanding into a live music venue.

The Commodore Hotel in McMahons Point, North Sydney, is currently undergoing a major $2.6 million renovation to expand the dining, sports bar and gaming areas.

The pub’s owners, hospitality group Epochal, have applied for an extended drinks licence to allow for the doubling of its floor space, while limiting capacity to 405 guests.

The facelift also allows the pub to be placed on Liquor and Gaming NSW’s official list of live entertainment venues.

However, locals have contacted North Sydney City Council to try to block the pub’s licence extension, fearing it will disrupt the area’s ‘village atmosphere’.

One of the complaints came from a group of residents from nearby Lavender Bay, who were angry about the noisy ‘trivia nights’ held at the Commodore Hotel.

Another objection was lodged by the prestigious Shore Catholic secondary school, located across the street from the pub, citing a potential increase in ‘customer activity’ which could impact on pupils.

Shore School’s letter to the council expressed concerns about the impact the extended licence would have on young students in Year 7, Daily Telegraph reported.

A recent incident was reported involving an “unauthorized male” entering campus who the school “suspected” was at the Commodore Hotel.

“We also own apartments across the street and are concerned about the implications of the expanded capacity,” the letter reads.

Shore’s objections were eased following a “productive meeting” with the hotel after the proposal was presented to council.

Glenn Piper, CEO of Epochal, has since spoken out against opponents of the pub’s expansion, saying it will “breathe new life” into the area.

Mr Piper said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia that Epochal aims to “reinvigorate local pride in the locations we acquire”.

The company currently owns 12 sites, including the Commodore, which Mr Piper described as an “iconic pub with a rich and storied history”.

“With our renovation, we want to honor that legacy while elevating the location into something very special that connects with today’s community,” he said.

“We are excited to breathe new life into this part of Sydney and create an experience that the whole community can make their own.”

The “historic” pub is currently undergoing a $2.6 million renovation (pictured), which will nearly double its floor space without increasing the number of guests allowed.

Glenn Piper (pictured), owner of Commodore and CEO of hospitality group Epochal, said the renovations will “breathe new life” into the surrounding neighborhood.

The proposed liquor licence, which NSW Liquor and Gaming is still assessing, will cover the ground floor sports bar, the gaming room and the extensive first floor terrace.

A community impact statement filed with the regulator on August 1 revealed that the owner planned to “expand the live music offerings … following the current renovations.”

“The hotel supported the live music industry by hosting live music performances on Sunday afternoons and Saturday evenings before the hotel closed for renovations,” the statement said.

‘The recently renovated first floor will provide more space for live entertainment, which will benefit employment and other opportunities in the live music industry.’

The filing comes just over a month after the New South Wales government announced it would support the state’s hospitality industry and shrinking live music scene.

The reforms, which came into effect on July 1, provide protection against the “old NSW sport of locating next to a music venue and complaining until the venue closes”.

Minister of State for Music and Nightlife John Graham said the government will pay up to $100,000 for soundproofing for 21 venues.

An additional 56 locations will receive funding of up to $80,000 for essential equipment, programming and marketing costs.