Kings Cross Detectives are investigating an attempted armed robbery at a licensed hotel on Nicholson Street in Woolloomooloo last night.

About 8.50pm yesterday (Monday 25 June 2012), the hotel manager finished his shift and, before leaving the property, switched off the hotel lighting, activated the sensor alarm and locked the main doors.

After leaving the building and walking a short distance down the road, the manager heard the hotel alarm system activate.

He immediately returned to the property to find out what had set the alarm off.

After checking the ground floor, the manager took the stairs up to the first floor. Near the top of the stairs, he was confronted by a man holding a knife.

The man threatened the manager, who immediately scaled back down the stairs and ran out on to the street where he called police.

Officers attended the hotel but were unable to locate the armed intruder. He is described as being of slim build and 165-175cm tall.

At the time of the incident, he was wearing a dark hooded jumper, dark pants, dark gloves, and a baseball cap. He also wore a scarf to conceal his face.