The Night Cat has secured the neighbouring lease, with plans for a second music room, public bar and smokers area.
Fitzroy’s favourite feline is stretching its legs, with The Night Cat locking in the lease on the building next door.
The Night Cat broke the news on its official Instagram, revealing plans to grow its Johnston Street footprint with a second music room, a public bar and a dedicated smokers area. The extra room means more stage time on offer for musicians, plus a bigger capacity for punters heading out to catch a show.
There’s a catch, though. Before any construction kicks off, the Fitzroy institution needs a planning permit from the City of Yarra, and it’s calling on supporters to lodge submissions backing the application before they close on 5 October.
The Night Cat
- Community submissions for The Night Cat’s expansion planning permit
- Submissions to the City of Yarra close 5 October
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
View this post on Instagram
The Night Cat celebrated three decades of live music in 2024, marking the milestone with a run of special shows featuring local favourites and international guests. The room is known for its circular stage, which lets crowds gather on every side of the performers for an in-the-round experience.
The expansion news lands roughly a year after the venue’s run-in with an apartment developer at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. In August 2025, VCAT cancelled temporary orders against The Night Cat after owner Justin Stanford submitted an independent acoustic report showing the business was operating within its permit conditions.
Submissions form part of the information council considers when assessing a planning application, so supporters have a short window to have their say. Anyone keen to back the build can find the submission link in The Night Cat’s Instagram bio.
For more information, head here.
