The laws, which include 1am and 1.30am lockouts, 3am and 3.30am closing times and drinks restrictions after 10pm, are the model for similar restrictions introduced to Kings Cross and the Sydney CBD.

The Sydney 1.30am lockout and 3am last drinks restrictions were relaxed by half an hour this year for venues with live music after a review by former High Court judge Ian Callinan, who visited Newcastle as part of his research.

On Tuesday, the chairman of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), Philip Crawford, said the Newcastle laws would be reviewed by Jonathan Horton, QC, who assisted Mr Callinan.

"The review follows a request to ILGA by the Australian Hotels Association on behalf of the 15 venues to consider revoking or changing some of the conditions," Mr Crawford said.

"Rather than considering this request in isolation, ILGA has appointed Mr Horton to conduct a broader review and consult all relevant stakeholders in the Newcastle community."

Mr Crawford said it was "timely" to review the laws as they had been in place for nine years "and Newcastle's CBD has changed considerably in this time".

"This review will be guided by evidence and community feedback. We encourage everyone with a view to express it in writing."

Newcastle businessman Tony Brown, who helped initiate the Newcastle laws after a spate of alcohol-related violence, slammed the announcement.

Mr Brown's application to the NSW Liquor Administration Board on behalf of 150 residents, along with that of the police, resulted in the lockout laws being introduced to Newcastle CBD in 2008.

He accused the ILGA of agreeing to the review "to placate the powerful AHA".

"It smacks of a fait accompli," he said. "They're now choreographing a process to try to fit the outcome".

In a letter to Mr Brown outlining his terms of reference on Tuesday, Mr Horton explained that "the timeframe is short" as he must report by December 22 and therefore had already started his review.

"It's extremely disturbing that the community and original key party to the decision discovers that a review of the conditions is already under way," Mr Brown said.

"Natural justice would dictate that the parties would have been afforded at least a copy of the AHA submissions before any terms of reference were established and commission appointed."

NSW Greens alcohol harm spokesman Justin Field said the review "is just the latest example of the undue influence of the alcohol lobby on NSW politics and policy."

"The fact that this review has been requested by the Australian Hotels Association says all you need to know about whose interests it serves," he said.

"By any measure the 'Newcastle solution' has been successful in achieving an outcome of reducing alcohol related violence. If the community wants to look at changes, they should be at the centre of driving that change, not the alcohol lobby."

A NSW AHA spokesman said Newcastle "has changed considerably over the past decade and it's appropriate these special conditions are now reviewed".

"The AHA NSW will be making a submission to the ILGA Review."