Bali-themed nightclub front in Swindon may have to be removed
Kioki opened in Old Town in April
The distinctive frontage of a recently opened nightclub in Swindon might not be legal.
And two Balinese-themed stone heads could be removed, if permission is not granted to the owners of the Kioki nightclub and bar in Old Town.
The High Street venue opened earlier this year and features the two stone heads facing on to the street, either side of the door.
But a new planning application lodged by the nightclub reveals that the extension of the building at the rear to create a storeroom, a change to the roof and the changes to the front, including the installation of the huge heads, did not have planning permission, and asks for retrospective consent.
'Support the night-time economy of Swindon town'
The application put in by Alan Mok, the owner of the club, as well as several other venues in town, says: “The applicant took over the premises and undertook the majority of the works between June and December 2021 as part of the general refurbishment and re-branding of the nightclub and cocktail bar now known as ‘Kioki’.
“The works were undertaken under the belief that they did not require planning permission. enforcement officers from the council have alerted the applicant for the need for a retrospective application to be submitted in order to attempt to regularise the works.”
It adds: “Alan Mok, is a local businessman who runs several bars and restaurants within the borough and is keen to support the night-time economy of Swindon town; the rebranding and refurbishment of the nightclub is part of this aspiration and since its re-opening in 2021 has been doing well in offering variety of venue choice for Swindon’s residents evening entertainment.
“The recent works which are subject of this retrospective application were undertaken in genuine good faith under the assumption that planning permission would not be required for the replacing and extending of sections of the roof.
“The applicant has since been made aware of this error and has sought to rectify the situation by the submission of this application within an agreed timescale.”
Mr Mok is also looking to extend the hours allowed in a previous planning application for the terrace, which said it may not be used outside the hours of 7 am and 11 pm - whereas the licence for the club allows its use from 11 am to 6 am.
The owner would like the operational hours of the whole site to be amended in the planning application, to allow use between 11 am and 6 am.