Rowdy club loses its licence (From Stroud News and Journal)

Rowdy club loses its licence

A NIGHTCLUB owner has been forced to close his doors by magistrates who have stripped him of his licence.

Evidence of under-age drinking, violence and illegal drugs in and near to Jo Jo's nightclub persuaded the licensing committee at South Gloucestershire Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to revoke Giuseppe Merlino's justice's licence to sell alcohol.

Gloucestershire Constabulary has become the first force in the country to shut down a nightclub using the new police powers.

The Nelson Street, Stroud club was temporarily closed down under new licensing laws almost immediately after a serious disturbance outside the club on May 12 this year.

Several fed-up Nelson Street residents told the committee of the trouble they believed was caused by Jo Jo's clubbers. Police had been called to deal with trouble outside the club 45 times this year, accounting for 62 per cent of all late night disturbances in Stroud.

Resident Anthony West said on one occasion two girls who later told him they were 16-years-old had been fighting, after spending time at Jo Jo's.

"They were drunk and their friends were egging them on," said Mr West.

Valerie Hill said she regularly cleaned up vomit near her home and Philip Trenchard said his young family had to sleep in the attic room to get away from the noise of rowdy revellers.

Several minors including one 14-year-old girl testified to police that she had consumed alcohol inside the club.

Mr Merlino pledged to make it an over 20's club and institute a stricter door policy.

But after a lengthy hearing, the committee felt he had been given long enough to get his club in order and revoked his licence.

Outside the court room Mr Merlino's solicitor Simon James said his client was unhappy and aggrieved at the decision. He planned to appeal within the next 21 days.