Yeovil Labour Club has had its licence officially revoked following multiple police visits due to reports of drug use, intoxication, and antisocial behaviour.
The club (also known as Unity Hall) lies on Central Road in Yeovil town centre, a short walk from the Quedam Shopping Centre and the recently reopened William Dampier public house.
The club has been working with Avon and Somerset Constabulary and council licensing officers to clean up its act since 2022, following “high levels of anti-social behaviour and multiple incidents” which occurred on site.
But Somerset Council has now revoked the club’s licence following several more recent police call-outs – and has given the club’s owners three months to turn things around.
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The club had a licence (originally issued by South Somerset District Council) to serve alcohol for consumption on the premises and to hold a range of events on-site, including those involving live and recorded music, indoor sports and the screening of films.
The licence came with a number of conditions, including that no-one under 18 would be allowed on the premises after midnight, that all children be accompanied by an adult, and noise levels not exceed certain levels out of respect for the club’s neighbours.
The council’s licensing sub-committee south met in Shepton Mallet on March 31 to discuss the club’s recent record.
The majority of the four-hour meeting took place in confidential session due to legal issues surrounding the club, and to prevent any individuals associated with these issues being publicly identified.
Licensing officer Rachel Lloyd summarised the issues in her report, which was published before the hearing and discussed at length by the sub-committee.
Problems go way back
She said in her written report: “Over the past three years, the police and the council have engaged with Yeovil Labour Club due to high levels of anti-social behaviour and multiple incidents.
“A meeting on November 11, 2022 highlighted these issues, leading to a three-month action plan to improve [the club’s] management.”
The action plan included the implementation of a Challenge 25 proof of age policy, staff training, the creation of an anti-drug policy and an incident log being kept – with the plan being “successfully completed” in late May 2023.
Ms Lloyd continued: “In early 2024, the designated premises supervisor (DPS) had a medical issue and was replaced.
“There have been further issues at the premises which have prompted further intervention from the police.
“Police officers visited the premises four times between March and November 2024 in relation to providing advice regarding submitting an application to change the DPS, management of the premises, and noise.
“Nine incidents at the premises from January to December 2024 were reported to the police at the time of each incident or afterwards. The incidents include fighting, assaults, public order, drink driving and possession of an offensive weapon.
“Five calls were made to the police in relation to the premises between February and December 2024. They were in relation to a banned person refusing to leave, an intoxicated person who drove away from the premises, a call regarding drug use at a drum’n’bass night, a request for assistance, and a child welfare check.”
During visits to the premises, police officers noticed that the signing in procedures required by the club’s rules were “not being followed”.
In response, the police’s licensing team called on the council to remove the current DPS, revoke the current premises certificate and suspend its licence for up to three months to allow for a change in management.
In addition, new conditions will be added to the club’s licence upon any restoration, including:
- A new event management plan for big events, including weddings, birthday parties and wakes
- Installing a new CCTV system
- Only toughened, shatter-proof, plastic or polycarbonate drinking vessels to be used at the premises
- Keeping records of refused sales of alcohol
- A strict ratio of one door staff member for every 75 patrons on site on Friday and Saturday evenings, public holidays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
- Developing an anti-drugs policy
The sub-committee complied with the police’s requests and revoked the club’s licence – with the club having until April 21 to appeal the ruling at Yeovil Magistrates Court. The club can continue to serve alcohol until April 29 or longer if an appeal is launched.
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