Luminar, Europe’s largest nightclub operator, will continue to trade its Kingston Oceana site after it agreed to a set of new licence conditions with the local council, including a decrease in the hours for the sale of alcohol and a 15% reduction in capacity.
Kingston Council has agreed conditions with Luminar and the police as a compromise to the company’s appeal against revocation. This followed a consultation with residents and lengthy negotiations between all parties and took into account the steep reduction in crime at the venue since the decision to revoke its licence last year after a fatal stabbing inside.
The parties have agreed a set of 17 new licence conditions, including the use of metal detectors, a reduction in the number of people allowed into the venue and changes to the nights the club will open.
At least four wardens paid for by Oceana’s owners will patrol local streets on nights when the venue is open, rising to six when the club’s admissions reach 1,000. A machine to check the ID of all customers is also part of the agreed new conditions, which also include: a 15% reduction in permitted capacity, from 2,353 to 2,000; WooWoo bar to provide additional seating and a food offering; no licence to trade on Sundays (apart from those preceding a Bank Holiday and six other Sundays per year with prior notice to the police and council); no licence to trade on Tuesdays (apart from six per year with prior notice to the police and council); a reduction in the hours for the sale of alcohol.
In April, Luminar set out a 10-point action plan to address anti-social behaviour and reduce noise at Oceana following feedback from residents. The company then announced the club had experienced an 80% decrease in crime in the first three months of 2013.
The company said the club is visited by over 300,000 people every year, making it one of the most popular venues in the UK.
The new conditions will be imposed subject to a court hearing before a District Judge later this month.
Peter Marks, chief executive of Luminar, said: “We are pleased with today’s decision, which recognises the efforts we have made to respond to local residents’ concerns and further enhance safety and security at the club. The fact we can now move forward constructively reflects the efforts the team have made to build strong relationships with the police and local authorities to reduce crime and ensure that we continue to provide a safe environment for the young people of Kingston.”
A statement from Kingston Council said: ““The council has been working with Luminar to consider a range of initiatives that might increase personal safety at their venue and improve the experience of visiting the town centre in the evening.”
