Today a Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing was held at Chichester District Council to determine the outcome of an application made by Sussex Police to review the premises licence of Thursdays Nightclub in Oving, Chichester. This was the first review hearing heard in Chichester.
 
As a result of the hearing, the nightclub owners have been ordered to reduce the clubs opening hours and have been ordered to have their licence suspended for a period of 14 days to allow the appointment of new staff, staff training and the installation of CCTV inside and outside the Oving premises.
 
Sussex Police requested a suspension of the licence and stated that it was necessary to act as a deterrent to this and other problem premises.
 
Alcohol sales in the club will now stop at 2.30am, instead of the current 3.30am, and the premises will now close at 3.30am instead of 4.30am.
 
Conditions also include a stipulation that a bus service taking customers to Chichester will not run after 3am, instead of the current 4.30am. The venue has also been required to install an identification entry system, so should any offences take place in the premises offenders can be quickly identified by the police.
 
Chief Inspector Alistair Darge of Chichester Neighbourhood Response Team said- "I am pleased with the outcome of today's hearing and the agreement reached between the club's owners and Sussex Police which was then ratified by the Licensing Sub-Committee.
 
"The nightclub has caused distress to many locals and Sussex Police will not tolerate further instances of violence and drunkenness."
 
Jean Irving, Sussex Police Licensing & Public Safety Manager said "Sussex Police are under an obligation to the residents of Sussex to hold problem premises to account for their behaviour. This result sends a very strong message to this and to other licensed premises that we will not hesitate to take decisive action against premises which serve drunk people and permit drunken behaviour.
 
"In the case of Thursdays Nightclub constructive discussions between the police and premises management prior to the hearing meant we were able to submit to the committee for their approval, a raft of measures and conditions which we believe will ensure the premises is well run in the future."
 
The solicitor representing the owners of the nightclub, James Anderson, said "The review application had been something of a wake-up call for his clients" and accepted the points made by the police.

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