Wellington CBD bar owners say nightlife scene under threat

Some Wellington bar owners are joining forces to fight against what they call unfair treatment by liquor licence agencies.

The bar owners claim the police, Te Whatu Ora and the city council are unreasonably opposing licenses.

Courtenay Place in Wellington has been "run into the ground a bit, [and] is in a dire state," Mayor Tory Whanau said, which had led it to become a hot spot for anti-social behaviours.

However, bar owners in the area believe they are getting punished as a result.

"Seventy-five per cent of alcohol is sold from off licence, that leaves 25 to 20 per cent for bars, cafes, restaurants, but yet we are being blamed for 100% of the problems that happen around Courtenay Place," bar owner Jose Ubiaga told 1News.

Grieg Wilson, owns a Mexican-themed bar and spent $400,000 on the fit out, had his license application appealed. He said he is unsure why.

"It's pretty depressing when you are trying reactivate a central city that is in desperate need of reactivation," he said.

"The sharp decline of Courtenay Place is imminent unless we get these agencies to back down and withdraw their opposition."

Whanau said the owners of these bars are not to be blamed for the disorder Wellington is seeing and added she has committed to getting Courtenay Place "vibing" again.