11:59am Monday 1st February 2010
A NIGHTCLUB has won permission to open later for Radio 1 DJ Judge Jules in the face of objections from police, who want its licence reviewed.
Police raised “serious concerns” about the running of the Bliss Clubrooms in Southampton, blaming bouncers for 14 of the 36 alleged assaults in or outside the nightspot. They fear more were not recorded.
In an official report to the city council, Sgt Ivan Marshman even went as far as accusing management of “covering up” an assault by doormen of a drunk, encouraging a punter to run off after another assault, and failing to call police after a “glassing” incident.
He said police had also received reports of bar staff watering down vodka and door staff failing to check the toilets when they were aware people may have been using them to take drugs.
The allegations were detailed in a dossier to councillors objecting to extended hours for Judge Jules to play at a Valentine’s ball on Saturday, February 13 – the day Southampton face Portsmouth in the FA Cup – and a party to celebrate Chinese New Year on February 14.
However, Sgt Marshman agreed to withdraw an accusation that there was a “disorderly, illegal ethos that runs deep within the club” and that it was “poorly run”.
Solicitor Jonathan Smith, for Bliss, said a contract with local firm Secridoor had been terminated and national player Bridgegate Security had brought in a new team of doormen.
Bridgegate operations director Shane Cooke told councillors all incidents would now be logged, adding: “I don’t have bouncers. I have customer care assistants.”
Mr Smith said the designated premises supervisor had been suspended and the doorman accused of the assault had been dismissed.
He said the number of assaults was a tiny percentage of the 106,000 clubbers that came through the doors last year, and that unsubstantiated allegations could have come from disgruntled staff or customers.
He added that fans wearing football shirts would not be allowed in and there had been no record of football matches resulting in increased violence at the club.
Mr Smith also promised councillors that glass bottles would be replaced with plastic ones.
Licensing panel chairman Brian Parnell said it was not “reasonable or proportionate” to refuse the temporary event licences.
But police are now calling for councillors to review the club’s licence for breaching its licensing objectives. It could result in its licence being revoked.
The Daily Echo revealed in December how only one city bar has had its licence reviewed in the past three years, while south coast neighbours Portsmouth had looked again at 11.
Bliss Clubrooms in Vincents Walk, on the site formerly occupied by Ocean & Collins and before that Chicago Rock, underwent a huge refurbishment ahead of its opening in September. The club declined to comment.
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