The eased restrictions, which allow participating bars to trade until 2am and serve stronger drinks like cocktails, began on October 1. Six bars and 18 restaurants, which can open until midnight, are taking part in the six-month trial.

Despite capacity at Blue Kahunas being reduced by 60 per cent because of COVID-19 restrictions, bar owner Prudence Farquhar said last weekend was "the busiest we've had since opening" almost two years ago.

"Saturday night people were arriving up until we had to do the last [drinks] call," she said. "We promoted it on social media so there were a handful of people who mentioned the trial and we're very excited about it, but being the long weekend I think we had a lot of people coming up from Sydney and around the state who were just googling where to go and they saw we were open."

Chris Wilson, who owns The Koutetsu on Hunter Street, said it was a "blessing" to be able to trade past midnight. "Just to get on par with the rest of the state," he said. "Newcastle's changed a lot and venues like ours weren't around 12 years ago."

He said the trial had the potential to transform the city's nightlife from that of a "big town to a city".

"It will put us on the national map," he said. "We get a lot of visitors from Sydney, especially with people travelling in their own state, and [previously] when we told them it was last drinks at 11.30, they looked at you with dismay. They couldn't believe we had restrictions."

Coal and Cedar co-owner Ethan Ortlipp said the relaxed restrictions would benefit businesses beyond those taking part in the trial.

"Once Newcastle Airport is back up and running, we will see a little influx I think, especially when we've got Melbourne to Newcastle flights," he said.

"It will definitely be a win for tourism, and we've already started to notice the last few weeks more regional tourists coming into town.

"I think that will only grow given there is a little more opportunity for them to get out at night."

Coal and Cedar will open until 2am every night except Sunday. Mr Ortlipp said the bar was previously "always full until midnight six days a week anyway" and he preferred "consistency across opening and closing times".

"There's plenty more hours for staff," he said. "We've got some split shifts now, so some people can go home early and still get a full shift.

"It feels very mature. It feels like a real city. It's nice to see those people that were knocking off work [elsewhere], and were only ever able to come in for that last half-hour, come in now and sit for an hour-and-a-half."

Each of the four bars the Herald spoke to said they had employed at least two extra workers for the trial.

"It is going to be a huge, huge help to all the small bars," Jerome O'Connor, co-owner of Uptowns, said. "Especially when the [COVID-19] restrictions ease up."

A NSW Police spokeswoman said there were "no incidents at the weekend in relation to the changes to venue liquor trading hours".

"Newcastle City Police will continue to monitor and work within the region for the duration of the six-month trial to address alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour," she said.

Newcastle council also received no complaints.

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