The Hopetoun Hotel in Surry Hills has closed its doors amid speculation it will be sold, triggering an online campaign to save the iconic music venue. The pub did not open on Monday afternoon (Sep 28) with a handwritten note on the door stating that the venue was closed until further notice. The popular venue is known to have had ongoing disputes with both local council and police.

Owner Evangelos PatakasPatakas told the Sydney Morning Herald that an accumulation of fines from police and onerous council directives to upgrade the venue were behind the closure but said it would reopen next year. However a spokesperson for the City of Sydney Council said there were no current directives for an upgrade.