ladies’ bar, noun phrase

Forms:
Also ladies bar.
Origin:
See quotation 1955.
Historically, a lounge or other public area in a hotel in which the sale of liquor to women was permitted (public bars being in the past closed by law to women); loosely, a hotel lounge or public area. Also attributive.
[1955 Lansdown & Broeksma S. Afr. Liquor Law 162Since, by section 104 of the Liquor Act 1928, a licence holder is prohibited..from permitting any female..from being at any time in his bar or any other part of the premises which the licensing board has declared to be restricted, it follows that sales of liquor, in so far as permitted to be made to females, must take place in some other portion of the premises, e.g. the dining room, or a lounge outside the bar or restricted portion, or a part which the board..has set aside as a place in which females shall be served.]
1972 S. Afr. Law Reports 1972(3) July–Sept. 386The said accused sold, supplied or dealt in liquor in the ladies’ bar, known as the Café de Paris,..a restricted portion of the licensed premises, which said sale..was contrary to the conditions imposed by the Liquor Licensing Board..in that the said sale..was made..by..a barmaid in respect of whom no certificate had been issued as required.
1981 W.A. Joubert Law of S. Afr. Vol.15, 148The restricted portions [of licensed premises] covered by this provision (sc. the minister’s granting of permission to the licensee to admit women or children) are commonly known as ‘ladies’ bars’. The holder of an on-consumption licence who wishes to have a ‘ladies’ bar’ on his premises has to make an application to the liquor board describing the restricted portion.
1983 M. Fairall When in Durban 74Good linefish, casseroles and stews from á la carte/ ladies bar menu.
[1983 M. Fairall When in Durban 79This is not men-only terrain...Many hotels will let you order a pub lunch in ladies’ lounges, cocktail bars and public terraces.]
1994 Informant, Grahamstown (now Makhanda, Eastern Cape)‘Is there somewhere we can sit and have a drink before eating?’ ‘There is a ladies’ bar in the restaurant.’
Historically, a lounge or other public area in a hotel in which the sale of liquor to women was permitted (public bars being in the past closed by law to women); loosely, a hotel lounge or public area. Also attributive.
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19551994

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labour tenant, noun phrasen. phr.lady, nounn.
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