Weymouth nightclub asks for longer opening hours with fewer security checks
Chic in Maiden Street was previously closed after concerns about drug dealing
Last updated 23rd May 2023
A Weymouth club which was closed after police concerns about drug dealing is asking for longer opening hours and fewer security checks.
Chic, in Maiden Street, was closed in December 2021 after concerns about drug dealing while owner Mr Parviz Panjalizadeh-Marseh was away on holiday.
Since the end of July 2022 it has been able to open again until 2.30am with greater restrictions and security, including all patrons having to submit to id scanning and body searches.
The rules about entry and re-entry were taken so seriously that it led to a bizarre incident when two DJs were locked out by door staff and the club had to close early.
The new application is for the club to open until 3.30am and 80per cent of patrons to be searched with personal identification scanned, with last entry at 2.30am and no drinks to be served after 3am.
Changes to the level of security is also being requested.
Police objections
Dorset Police has objected to the application to reduce the number of patrons being searched and ID checked.
“We believe that by reducing the percentage of patrons searched and ID checked upon entry, this could lead to an increase in crime and disorder at the premises. Since its reopening in July 2022, this has proved to be an effective deterrent in reducing the number of incidents previously seen before the 100% condition was applied. We think that the increase in times requested would be acceptable provided there still remains sufficient conditions to mitigate any potential disorder, but this would include keeping all persons entering the premises being searched and ID checked,” said a statement from Dorset Police.
Weymouth Town Council and one resident have lodged a similar objection to the application to vary the Premises Licence and have asked that it stay as it is.
Said the resident: “There has been a return of poor behaviour blighting that section of Maiden Street…it is not unreasonable to expect to be able to sleep with an open window on a warm night.”
At a hearing earlier in the year for a temporary longer opening period Mr Panjalizadeh-Marseh said that with 27 years as a licensee and his own money in the business he would not be taking any risks and would strictly maintain all of the conditions to keep the business open.
Drug dealers staying away
He said that the new door entry policy since the summer had resulted in all the known drug dealers keeping away from the premises : “They don’t come near because of the scanning and body searches,” he said at the time.
Dorset Council licensing staff confirmed that their inspections had found conditions being complied with since the re-opening and that calls about the club and its patrons had reduced to ‘almost zero’.
Said Mr Panjalizadeh-Marseh: “We are not careless operators. Things went wrong when I was absent but I’m now looking after the business and I won’t jeopardise it by having anything go wrong,” he said.
A hearing to consider the request is being held in Dorchester on Wednesday (24 May).