Bar where man had his ear bitten off is shut for month
A UNION Street bar has been closed down for a month after police raised concerns over violence – including a man having his ear bitten off.
The Venue was given notice of the expedited review by Plymouth City Council's licensing committee on Friday.
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Legal representatives at yesterday's hearing told Plymouth City Council's licensing sub-committee that within 48 hours of The Venue being given notice of the expedited review another violent crime had occurred at the premises.
Devon and Cornwall Police's legal representative, Graham Watson, noted there had been a number of incidents at the club.
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He said on June 30, a 23-year-old man was attacked and left with cuts. He claimed the matter had not been reported to the police by the club and the injured man was then ejected from the premises.
On August 5 he noted how an individual was attacked by a man and a woman outside The Venue while he was talking to door staff.
Mr Watson said CCTV footage showed door staff with arms crossed and argued the door supervisor did not do enough to intervene. Again he accused the club of not contacting police.
The hearing was told that on September 23 a 22-year-old man was attacked while at the bar and his ear was bitten off.
Mr Watson said the incident resulted in the request to the committee for the expedited review.
However, as reported in yesterday's herald, Sunday morning saw another assault in the club in which a serviceman was attacked by three men in the male toilets, leaving him with a broken jaw.
Mr Watson said that since the bar had opened police had been aware of 19 offences of violent crime.
He said the "catalogue of violence" was of concern due to the "escalation of assaults", a "lack of intervention by door staff" as well as a "failure to report matters to police."
Danny Robinson, who described himself as the club's promoter, told the committee that during the incident on August 5 the club was actually shut and while the doorstaff were "slow" to intervene, they did apprehend the suspects.
He said he personally dealt with the customer whose ear was bitten off, noting how the man had refused treatment and had instead insisted on getting another drink from the bar. Mr Robinson said that while he got a bag of ice and retrieved the ear the man had left the club.
He blamed the security firm employed by the club, adding that they had been given notice, but continued to work this last weekend as another firm had not yet signed up to take over.
Councillor Eddie Rennie, committee chair, asked Mr Robinson why he was dealing with these incidents and not the Designated Premises Supervisor Tom Yabsley or the security staff.
Mr Robinson said he was often in the club and lived above the premises.
Following deliberation, the committee agreed with the police application and immediately suspended the licence.
A full hearing will be held in around four weeks time to determine whether the club's licence should be completely revoked.
Following the meeting, Mr Robinson and manager Stefan Williams released a joint statement saying: "We feel sorry for the staff that have been put out of work and would like to thank our loyal customers who have stood by us through thick and thin.
"We will be contesting the application by police to revoke the licence at the full hearing."
A police spokesman said: "We will be going to the full review hearing where we will ask for the licence to be revoked."
Comments
by HappyPlym
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 2:39PM
“I'm afraid to say, having experience working behind the bar in such places during my uni years, that this is something fueled by narcissistic, selfish and degrading management. The culture of a club/pub spills out from how the management have their place/s run and what kind of customer they attract into the premises. Unfortunately ££ comes before anyone's safety and sanity for them. When it comes to 'Door Supervisors' AKA immature thugs, they are a law unto themselves with incidents covered up constantly with lies from the 'brotherhood' backing up 'what happened.'..honest officer! I can honestly say that I have never, ever seen such corruptness and vile human beings as when I worked in that industry.- and that's just the staff and doorfolk!”
by fazer58
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 10:04AM
“Surely the Security there are licensed these days? As they're very obviously totally incapable of doing their job properly or just scared they should have their licences taken away for everyone's safety.Too many Doormen are just pumped up primaddonas who like to pose,strut and pull the girls who are impressed by such things. The good ones do a great job and take pride in keeping people safe and trouble from their place of work,the rest drift into employment at the grottier end of the market and give punters a false sense of security (guess why your job title is that chaps?) in places the unwary should never tread.”
by BarryBT
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 10:46PM
“So I guess that all those 'violent thugs' will disperse themselves amongst the remaining dwindling clubs.”
by sidewinder
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 10:45PM
“nest of scumbags, vipers and degenerates,”
by niugnepyzarc
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 7:52PM
“Is this one of these dodgy clubs you see down the middle/bottom end of union street? Couldnt drag me down there, basically if you want to stay out of trouble dont go any further then c103 etc. Those places look like tiny little ****holes anyway why people go there is beyond me :P”
by matthiasjones
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 6:18PM
“Popular with wannabe football hooligans and chavs....is it any surprise?”
by Tony248
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 11:09AM
“So, from their own evidence, we can conclude that either the club failed to deal correctly with violent incidents, or else they were selling alcohol to intoxicated customers (victims) which is also contrary to licencing conditions.
Both these gentlemen should be debarred from any further involvement in the licenced trade.
Well done the police, get rid of cowboy bars so the decent people can enjoy a drink in peace.”
by jaygeek1
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 10:28AM
“Dirty, *****y club where the managers plead how awesoe they are and the security are a joke who will not attept to help anyone in the street even though the trouble starts in their premises.
Rubbish management, even worse security & worse still are the tards who comit the violent crimes.”
by o0Dj0o
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 8:56AM
“"Ah, Stefan Williams, always involved in the classy places! Jumping Jacks, Choo Choos, The Venue, Space. Funny how all these places have all been shut down or investigated eh?"
Investigated or conveniently burned down!”
by narkybee
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 8:17AM
“Its very sad that during these very difficult times for the licensed trade, places like this even exist. There is no excuse for allowing trouble to walk through the door in the first place. Strong leadership & firm & robust management are all that are needed to implicate your will on your premise, not allowing the tail to wag the dog.... As for certain door supervisors employed at this premise, well their record speaks volumes for their inability to do their jobs properly. What about the SIA??? Why have they still got their badges??? Another Toothless Tiger or are the Police going to report them in the same way!!!!!”