Chargrill Charlie’s has officially opened in Redfern, but the charcoal-chicken chain’s plans to dine al fresco hit a snag along the way.
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Chargrill Charlie’s has opened its doors at 131-133 Redfern Street in Redfern, bringing its signature rotisserie chicken to one of inner Sydney’s busy dining strips. The new outlet joins an increasingly busy stretch of restaurants and cafes in the area.
However, the road to opening wasn’t without its bumps. Last October, the chain lodged a proposal with the City of Sydney to set up outdoor tables and chairs across a 34 square metre stretch of footpath outside the new outlet, with trading hours of 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. The application generated an unusually strong community response, 111 submissions in total, with 109 opposing the plans.
Locals raised a wide range of concerns. Some pointed to potential pedestrian obstruction and noise, while others worried that food scraps left behind by diners could attract rodents, ibises and cockroaches. One resident raised the possibility that “chicken fumes” from the outdoor zone could “create an unappealing atmosphere” for passing pedestrians.
The new outlet’s upstairs neighbour, an Italian restaurant, also weighed in against the proposal. The eatery raised concerns that footpath furniture and signage could block its entrance and obstruct its signage from the street.
Planning authorities ultimately refused the footpath dining application, determining it could impede pedestrian movement and cause access issues for adjoining businesses. Chargrill Charlie’s did not respond to media questions but stated in planning documents that the proposal had been designed to “not adversely impact streetscape character.” The refusal is a rare outcome. Of the 482 footpath dining applications assessed last year, only 12 were refused.
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Despite the setback, Chargrill Charlie’s has since opened its doors to Redfern diners. For locals after a rotisserie chicken fix, the answer is now just down the street — indoors, at least for now.
Published 28-February-2026
