Objections to two Weymouth bars operating under one licence to be argued out next week
The businesses claim it will improve security and nuisance
Weymouth’s Closet Bar and Nightclub and adjoining Somewhere Else Bar are looking to operate under one licence.
A Dorset Council licensing panel will decide on Tuesday May 4th whether the changes should be allowed after objections, including from Weymouth Town Council and a residents’ group.
The businesses, on the corner of Maiden Street and St Edmund Street, claim that being able to operate as one will improve security and nuisance.
Licence holder Jamie Crage argues the changes will reduce the number of people moving around outside, reducing noise and the risk of antisocial behaviour. He is also planning to change the club’s music policy and move entertainment into the Closet section of the building which has better sound protection. Overall, he says, there will be less people in the combined premises.
Environmental Health, Weymouth town council and Respect Weymouth had objected to the application although talks have been going on to try and resolve issues.
The licence panel will be told that The Closet has not been the subject of loud music complaints in the recent past, mainly due to its structure and layout, while the “Somewhere Else” bar, now being described as the “Closet Bar”, has resulted in numerous complaints mainly because much of its frontage is glass allowing sound to escape.
The residents’ group, Respect Weymouth, believes the consequence of the changes will result in less security staff which it fears will lead to problems at the time people are asked to leave.
“Residents, businesses, landlords and visitors aren’t expecting silence here. But they are expecting a fair and respectful balance with rights to enjoy private property. Unfortunately, the impacts have become much worse in recent years,” said the group.
It says a survey of 24 residents resulted in two thirds reporting significant impacts from all licensed premises in the area, including regular, disturbed sleep. All said they thought the balance between licensed premises and households in the areas is unacceptable. 15 of the 24 said they were thinking about moving out of the area.
Said one respondent “We bought the property as a holiday home to relax and unwind from our busy lives and spend quality time with our children. We were left sleep deprived, stressed and anxious. My children have seen and heard and been subjected to behaviour that is completely unacceptable. We now have rented our property out on a long term let.”
Jamie Crage says in a statement to the panel that he believed that trading as one business, as it used to do in the past, would result in the area being quieter and it would also result in a reduction of around 150 in overall capacity which, together with a change in music policy, would also help reduce noise.
“We are also working with Respect Weymouth to come to an agreement on noise conditions and will be happy to review any issues regarding dispersal policy and make amendments if required and practical…previously both venues were once under one licence, before business changes some years ago, so it is simply reverting back to something similar and the main reason of doing this is to improve things.”