A High Court judge has reserved her decision on whether to allow another legal challenge to the introduction of compulsory 4am closing for Queenstown bars.
Bar owners have been fighting the trading restriction since it was first mooted by the Queenstown Lakes District Council in 2006.
They lost appeals to the Liquor Licensing Authority and the High Court and the rule came into force on August 4.
Yesterday, four companies operating under the Goodbars Group - My Noodle, Central Otago Breweries, Chuck Norris Ltd and Barmuda Ltd - sought leave to take the case to the Court of Appeal.
A two-hour hearing was held in Dunedin with the public excluded.
It could be some time before Goodbars finds out whether its request has been granted, as Justice Christine French reserved her decision.
Graeme Todd represented the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Austin Forbes QC, of Christchurch, appeared for the bar owners.
