The new owner of a Hereford nightclub has said he was “horrified” at neighbours’ complaints about it and has vowed to address these.
Tom Williams, who took on the licence of Trilogy nightclub in the city’s Blue School Street late last month, was addressing a Herefordshire Council licensing committee meeting to decide on an application by the club’s previous owner Epic Bars.
This sought to extend the club’s opening hours earlier until midday, and to ease restrictions on use of glassware in the adjoining Botany bar.
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It had drawn a strongly-worded response from a neighbour Lee Baynham, representing residents of the adjacent Catherine Street and Catherine Court, who were concerned about “intolerable” noise from the club as well as issues of rubbish and staff behaviour.
Following the consultation period on the application, the club’s licence was transferred to the newly incorporated Church Farm Hospitality, whose sole director is Mr Williams, operator of Hogarths bar in nearby Commercial Road.
According to his agent, licensing consultant Nick Semper, Mr Williams was “horrified” to hear the neighbours’ complaints, and “immediately set about putting it right, have spent several days at club ensuring the issues are dealt with”.
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“He has also written to all householders giving a personal guarantee that the issues will not be repeated, and has provided a 24-7 contact telephone number,” Mr Semper said.
Mr Williams confirmed he was willing to abide by conditions previously agreed between the police, council officials and the previous licence holder.
Mr Semper added that no authorities had objected to the application to vary the licence, and that the meeting “is not a licence review”. No objections were put to the meeting.
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The subcommittee agreed to approve the club’s application subject to the agreed conditions.
Chair Coun Polly Andrews said members were “pleased that the applicant is taking steps to engage with the community and is taking action to address their concerns”.
She urged residents to contact authorities if concerns remained, “so that they are properly documented”.
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