Troubled Union Street nightclub stripped of its licence

A NIGHTCLUB branded a "magnet for violence" has been stripped of its licence.

The Venue, in Union Street, was closed down temporarily last month after an urgent application by police.

And yesterday members of the city council licensing committee revoked the club's licence.

"We were not happy with the management, and Gary Miller the licence holder didn't have a clue to what was going on," Cllr Eddie Rennie, the committee chairman, said.

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Mr Miller, along with two colleagues, Dan Robinson and Stefan Williams, appeared before the committee yesterday.

The committee heard that Mr Williams and Mr Miller were involved with city centre pub Jumping Jacks, which had its licence revoked in 2009.

And all three men were involved with Choo-Choos, where Mr Williams was removed as designated premises supervisor last year.

Committee member Cllr Ian Gordon said: "You seem to be a magnet for violence."

Police said there had been a string of incidents since the club opened last autumn.

Councillors saw CCTV footage of two violent assaults in the club and just outside it.

In one incident a man was seriously injured, but staff left him standing in a corner. They failed to call the police or an ambulance and it was only when the victim left hospital that the police were informed.

After a second serious assault this year, the club again failed to call the police.

A man is awaiting trial for allegedly causing grievous bodily harm.

Mr Robinson admitted there were "four or five incidents where I have to hold my hand up". But he said the first he knew of many of the incidents was when he received the police evidence last week.

Some allegations were made by drunk people and did not stand up to scrutiny of the CCTV evidence, he said.

No one could preempt an assault, Mr Robinson said. "It's how you deal with it afterwards."

Fred Prout, police licensing officer, said: "The incidents are so serious and violent that we can't allow a premises like this to operate."

Under questioning, Mr Miller, the licence holder, said he could not remember the name of his manager "off the top of my head".

James Taghdissian, representing the police, said the behaviour of the club's management and door staff was woeful.

Two of the three men facing the committee had been there before as a result of violence, he said. In February this year, having been open for only six months, they were called in by the police for a meeting.

"They might respond to police issues, but it's lip service. The club is being badly run and it's not going to get any better."

The Venue has 21 days to appeal to the magistrates' court against the council's decision.