Nightclub Problems

Henry_Hoover_2

Sorry if this is in the wrong place, I couldn’t find a suitable board.

I live in a city centre apartment, on a pedestrian-ised street. Cars/vehicles aren't permitted, except for loading. In the past, people generally follow the rule, and it is nice and quiet. There is a nightclub next door, which causes no problems, and the customers tend to leave quietly.

A nightclub has opened opposite, about a month ago. Since it opened, there has been nothing but trouble. They keep the main doors wide open, and the music blares out from 7pm till 2am. That wasn't a problem when they first opened, as they were only open Fridays and Saturdays, but now they open Thursdays and Sundays aswell.

They don't have a smoking area, so the customers stand out on the street. They take their drinks out with them aswell, and there is usually around 30 people at a time stood outside on the street, all shouting. There are often fights, which the bouncers turn a blind eye to - presumably because it is out on the street.

At closing time, taxis line up outside, beeping and revving. This can go on for an hour or so after closing, as people hang around and generally be rowdy.

I'm at my wits end - is the club obliged to ensure that their customers behave when outside smoking, and leaving the club?

Thanks!

sooz

Call your local council. They will deal with this sort of thing for you.
Enviromental health will monitor the noise for you, & take action if they think it's excessive. Not sure which dept will deal with the smoking, but you can ask when you call.

googler

...and hopefully your council will have byelaws which prohibit on-street drinking - so the council will be interested in any violations here, and the patrons will no longer be able to drink outside.

If the smokers drop their cigarette butts outside, you could encourage the council litter wardens to take an interest.


Keep a diary of what happens; fights, incidents, etc.

When their licence comes up for renewal, gather your neighbours and lodge a joint objection to the renewal on the grounds of the various incidents that you've logged, and on the basis of the various calls you've made to the council's noise abatement people.

If the council has community wardens on night patrol, you could encourage the council to have them patrol the vicinity of this club....

googler

You may want to ask the council transport dept if the definition of 'loading' between certain overnight hours includes allowing taxis to pick up and set down their passengers........ it could be that taxis aren't permitted to do so. I always thought 'loading' meant the loading of goods, not people.

sooz

Also speak to your neighbours. The more of you who complain to the council, the better.

Hugbubble

aron wrote: »

I would imagine a city centre by it's very nature would not usually be the place to find peace & quiet, your local authority can and indeed will enforce certain by-laws regarding street drinking and noise levels from businesses, but it would be questionable just how much the local authority can reduce the noise and activity that city centres inevitably attract.

In response to the above quote, the local authority does have an obligation to reduce noise etc for local residents even in city centre properties. They, after all, encouraging people to move into city centres, reaping the council tax benefits.

I had a similar situation when a pre-existing nightclub which I lived opposite applied for a later licence. The smoking ban had come in not long before and the effect of people having to stand outside had already contributed to the noise alot. Complaining to the local council does work, especially, as someone mentioned, if you encourage as many of your neighbours to do the same. In my situation, the nightclub was allowed to open slightly later (not as late as they wanted) and they were forced to make provision to reduce the noise from people leaving the club- specifically, the council insisted they lay on buses so people weren't hanging around waiting for cabs (the club was mainly a student club so it ferried them back to the main student area).

Oh and my understanding was that the club and its security people are oblidged to "police" the behavious of their patrons even when stood outside.

jojo9239

There is a nightclub that has a terrace bar backing on to my balcony and they have to shut this at 11pm which they do. The council enforced this just after the smoking ban x

SkipE

googler wrote: »

...and hopefully your council will have byelaws which prohibit on-street drinking - so the council will be interested in any violations here, and the patrons will no longer be able to drink outside.

If the smokers drop their cigarette butts outside, you could encourage the council litter wardens to take an interest.


Keep a diary of what happens; fights, incidents, etc.

When their licence comes up for renewal, gather your neighbours and lodge a joint objection to the renewal on the grounds of the various incidents that you've logged, and on the basis of the various calls you've made to the council's noise abatement people.

If the council has community wardens on night patrol, you could encourage the council to have them patrol the vicinity of this club....

My bold.
Unfortunatley with the Licensing Act 2003 there is no such thing as Licence renewals. The Licence will stay in place till either revoked or surrendered.

My advice would be get hold of you local Authority Licensing Dept and find out if there are any conditions placed on the licence with regards windows and doors being closed during regulated entertainment (or any other conditions). If you can gather evidence of Licensing Condition breaches the Licensing Dept should take action.

There will also be a Police Licensing Officer who may be able to assist you with what you are experiencing.

Defiently contact Environmental Health about the Noise and the Smoking Complaince team and make a complaint about the smoking litter if there is any.

As you do not have the objection process when a Licnece is being renewed nowdays you, as a local resident living in the vicinity, can at any time call a Licence Review which will call up the licence under scrutiny with a Licensing Committe (made up of local cllrs). HOWEVER, to do this you must have evidence to prove you claims and evidence from other Council departments are your best bet.

Also keep eye out for a BLUE A4 notice this will advise you of any planned variations to the licnece ie additional hours etc. This is the time to object to a licence.

If you do get hold of the Licnece conditions and need any help PM me Im happy to advise.

Ladybird20

..oo i sympathies with you..i stayed in a really nice hotel ,,only to find that smokers gathered outside,below my room window and that noise of doors openin an shuttin really wound me up,,,,,,no were near as bad as urs tho,,,when i bookin at hotels i am going to take note if it is anywere near function rooms double doors were people stand outside and pollute the atmosphere....i hope u get sorted

Henry_Hoover_2

Thanks for all the advice, it is appreciated.

I am going to start by contacting the local council, and asking for clarification regarding the taxis and if there are any licence conditions for the nightclub.

In the mean-time, I will keep a diary of any incidents, and put a note in the lobby, asking for other residents to contact me if they are having the same problems. I live in the front of the building, but most people live round the back, so it might not be affecting them as much.

There is a nightclub next door which causes no problems, and a bar/club a few doors down which is also problem-free, it is just the new club that has opened. I had hoped things would settle down, but it has just got worse.

Henry_Hoover_2

I've just called the local council - other people have complained (:j - glad i'm not the only one), and they are dealing with it at the moment.

The club is licenced to open in the week, but only until 11:30pm, not 2am as they have been.

Fingers crossed it is sorted out soon - I need my beauty sleep!