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Attic Bar in Dover to close earlier after licence review

13:32, 08 March 2023

updated: 14:35, 08 March 2023

A nightclub will now have to close earlier following two reports of affray - just months after its opening hours were extended.

Police requested a licence review for the Attic Bar in Dover following concerns over two alleged incidents of violence at the Church Street venue, which happened in December and January.

The Attic Bar was subject to a licence review
The Attic Bar was subject to a licence review

The meeting at Dover District Council, which was held in private, came just months after the club was given permission to stay open until 3am on Thursday nights, and until 4am on Saturdays and Sundays.

These new opening times were granted at the end of last year, despite concerns from neighbours.

But now, it will have to stop serving alcohol at 11.45pm on Thursdays, and stop playing recorded music at midnight.

On Fridays and Saturdays, the club must stop serving alcohol at 3am, and stop playing music at 3.30am.

A spokesman for Dover District Council said: "On Friday, March 3, a hearing took place at the council offices, to review the premises licence for Attic Bar, 8-9 Church Street, Dover.

"The hearing was called by Kent Police and was held in private at their request.

Brendan Quinn lives opposite the club and was against the extended opening hours
Brendan Quinn lives opposite the club and was against the extended opening hours

"The licensable hours are to be reduced as follows: Thursdays - recorded music, 11pm to midnight, alcohol sales 11am to 11.45pm.

"Fridays and Saturdays - recorded music 11pm to 03.30am (from 3am with music levels gradually being reduced and lighting levels increased), alcohol sale 11am to 3am."

Recorded music before 11pm does not need a licence.

The venue opened in July 2021 in the premises previously occupied by another nightclub - Party Bar.

Residents of the block of flats directly opposite the nightclub - Stembrook Court - spoke out against the decision when the late licence was granted in November.

Tenant Brendan Quinn previously said the club’s planned 3am Thursday close “will be absolute torture”.

He described noise from customers of the club as like having “an alarm across the road”.

The Attic Bar nightclub is opposite Stembrook Court flats
The Attic Bar nightclub is opposite Stembrook Court flats

In November, the Attic’s manager, Ben Pilott stressed: “We take our responsibilities as a licensed venue seriously and will always do what we can to prevent disturbance to our neighbours.”

It later emerged Mr Pilott was facing a court appearance for offences carried out while drunk in July last year.

The 26-year-old stood before Margate magistrates in February and admitted verbally abusing a police officer in a private car park in Dover.

He called the constable a “bad copper, a nasty tyrant and a retard”.

He was fined £115 for threatening behaviour.

The licence review meeting was held in private at Dover District Council last Friday (March 3).

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