Local nightclub under scrutiny by council licensing panel

Date published: 12/06/2008

Club NV based in Silver St in Bury has been given a reprieve by Bury Council's licensing panel which met on 29th May to discuss concerns about antisocial behaviour and the club opening out of hours.
Councillors hearing the case agreed not to revoke the club's licence but gave owners a condition that they must stop serving alcohol at 2.15am and be cleared 15 minutes later.
The police had wanted the panel to revoke the club's licence claiming that it had stayed open beyond its 2.30am closing time and evidence was submitted relating to ongoing problems of antisocial behaviour and crime and disorder issues.
Club NV fought its corner admitting that there had been a number of incidents in December and April but provided evidence of improvement. Club owners claimed that it was the best run club in Bury and told the panel that they co-operated with the police by reporting incidents of criminal behaviour and detaining those responsible for such behaviour. During cross examination the club owner pointed to his chairmanship of the "Pub Watch" committee in which he had been an active founder.

The panel agreed that the terms of the licence had been breached on the 10th, 15th and 18th of February 2008 for which they had been previously cautioned. They also found proof that there had been incidents of criminal activity on the premises or which were directly connected to the premises.
As a consequence of those findings the panel were satisfied that the premises were connected with Crime and Disorder and that the powers available upon a review of the licence under section 52 of the Licensing Act 2003 were engaged.

The premises licence has also been modified so that:

1. All music, dancing and the sale of alcohol shall cease at 02:15 hours each day, and;
2. That the premises shall be closed to the pubic and locked by 02:30 hours each day.