Nightclub interiorA Shropshire nightclub has had its licence revoked after undercover police discovered a catalogue of problems including street brawls, disorder and under-age drinking.Brileigh’s, in Oakengates, is claimed by police to be Telford’s top hotspot for night-time trouble. It now faces permanent closure after Telford & Wrekin Council used tough licensing powers for the first time.
Police say they have a good relationship with the vast majority of pubs and clubs but warn they will not hesitate to take action against licensees who fail to work with them in future.
The decision to revoke Brileigh’s licence was taken by the council’s licensing committee following a two-day closure order last July after a brawl in which three people were injured.
Since then, the club’s future has been under review.
Paul Homersley, police licensing officer for Telford & Wrekin, said Oakengates had become the focal point for alcohol-related crime and disorder and under-age drinking in the borough.
Chief Superintendent Peter Robinson, head of Telford police, had therefore given the go-ahead for police to work covertly in Oakengates venues during November.
Mr Homersley said: “Brileigh’s was identified as the main cause for concern. We were getting a lot of problems with poor management there, especially under-age drinking.
“Youngsters aged under 18 were allowed in without challenge and young people and adults were getting very drunk on cheap drink promotions. People were being chucked out unceremoniously by staff and left fighting in the street.”
He added: “Unfortunately, attempts to work with the owners were in vain so we decided to take the ultimate sanction under the new Licensing Act.”
The licensee Haroon Rashid and premises supervisor Lee Griffin now have 21 days in which to lodge an appeal and the club is meanwhile allowed to stay open.
No-one was at the club today to comment.
Mr Homersley said Brileigh’s originally opened in 2005 as a private members’ club and operated without problems. It became a nightclub in 2006.
By Peter Johnson
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7 Comments
God don’t let this club be closed.
If they get the problems sorted then its fine.
It actually hosts decent events in Telford!
While I would never condone violence or its perpetrators It does seem to be Telford police’s intention to close every busy club in telford down?
Rather than coordinate with security staff to ensure that trouble is dealt with effectively they seem to take the attitude that closing the venue down will solve the problem. This obviously doesn’t work as the trouble always just moves elsewhere in the town
15+ years of these tactics would surely show Telford police that they dont work, time for a rethink perhaps?
Its NOTHING but trouble, Its NOT a safe entertainment enviroment
best thing that could happen to the place is to close it oakengates has gone right down the nick since it was opened
BRILIEGHS WONT CLOSE DOWN! BUTTERMARKET GOT THERE APPEAL.. ROLL ON THE 26TH APRIL.. UNIVERSAL HARDCORE PRESENTS: THE SKOOL DISCO @ BRILIEGHS
im a axi driver an i wont go 2 night clubs i only do house calls its a night mare at clubs thats y we have so many police out side em passengers wont pay are breaking the law but its not enforsed its theft so is under age drinking we carry loads of youngsters to these venues an i can tell there not old enough but they want their money parents know it to so find em also i could catch loads every week end so y not the law ?
Of course there is always the outlook that the more clubs and venues the Telford Police get closed down for various reasons, the less work they have to do and therefore get to spend more time sat on their butts doing nothing!