Galashiels nightclub's curfew warning

Ally McGilvray 1606 - 1606 • Published 8 Jan 2009 00:30 Comments 1 Comment

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NIGHTCLUBS across the Borders may just have enjoyed their busiest time of year.

Mad Friday, Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations may now be nothing more than a drunken blur.

However, with plans to force clubs in Galashiels to close an hour earlier in future amid police concerns over an increase in drink-fuelled violence, it just may be the party to end all parties.

Earlier this year, the Border Telegraph reported that Scottish Borders Licensing Forum had made a request to the Scottish Borders Licensing Board to insist all clubs close at 2am in future.

But local nightspots Move Music Venue and Indigo Rooms, which hold a late licence until 3am, warned any change to the opening hours could force them to close their doors altogether.

Councillors are expected to make a decision on the future of the clubs in the middle of the New Year.

Here Move boss Dominic Taddei presents his case to Galashiels and Langlee Community Council: 'Firstly I just wanted to say thank you all very much for giving us the opportunity to put our views, thoughts and concerns to you. I attended a meeting in Newtown St Boswells with the new licensing forum. It was most informative but unfortunately the opportunity wasn"t there to speak.

'It"s been suggested that one of the main reasons for introducing this reduction in opening times is to reduce incidents of bad behaviour on the streets. I would contend that this change is in fact more likely to have the exact opposite effect.

'There is probably a strong argument to suggest that actually extending opening hours would have a more beneficial impact!

'Most of the people visit the club after spending time in the local pubs and bars. To close the club an hour earlier in future will mean that migration time between pubs shutting at 1am and clubs shutting at 2am will be much more intense and will increase the amount of people on the street.

'I would like to say that since we heard the opening hours may be reduced we have been monitoring the amount of people vacating the club between the hours of 2.30am and 3am. On average 210 customers, (on a Saturday night) filter out the club during this time. Our opinion is that if opening hours are shortened people will stay right up till 2 am to the death, so to speak.

'I see no reason why the same issue will not apply at the Indigo Rooms. The impact of this is that there is potential for up to 1000 people hitting an 80 yard stretch of road very, very quickly!

'We also feel that if this goes ahead many people will not feel as if their Saturday night is finished and the potential for increased amount of house parties is very evident. Whereas at the moment the potential problem is localised in and around the clubs the problem will only be spread into the residential areas of the town.

'The police themselves have demonstrated that at football matches, where there is potential for trouble, the situation has been eased by holding segments of the crowd in the ground until the majority of the crowd has dispersed.

'If the club remains open until 3 am - or even later - then the customers would filter out of all premises rather than repeating the old issues of so-called kicking out time.

'If people are in the club then they are in a controlled environment, under one roof, where behaviour can be quickly monitored and acted on. It is the responsibility of the club to control this. If we close the doors early, we are losing this control. There will be a mass exodus on to the streets at the same time and the potential for flash-point incidents will increase.

'Bad behaviour would not be curbed by restricting opening times. One of the fundamentals of extending opening hours across the UK was to curb the bad behaviour of people who were drinking to excess because of the limited time available. We seem now to want to reverse that common sense legislation.

'A far more effective measure would be to follow the lead of other cities by issuing curfews to people under the influence of alcohol. They are asked to leave the street and warnings issued if necessary. We would fully support this incentive and would be prepared to carry it through to the club.

'A major issue for us would is the impact it would have on the profitability and future success of the business. We rely hugely on our door entry fees to survive and we operate on very tight profit margins. This legislation will seriously affect our ability to continue to trade.

'This is for sure our busiest time and for us, it would be the equivalent of demanding that a High Street shop must close on Saturdays. This is something that would never happen.

'Our accountants have advised us that if our trading time was to be reduced to just one exclusive hour then we could not survive and would have to close the business.

'I am sure that there are some individuals who would see this as a good thing. But the 38 people that we employ I"m certain would not! I"m fairly certain that the Indigo Rooms would share the same sentiment.

'I"ve heard the argument that the fact that we are open until 3 am is unfair on the rest of other towns. But we are not other towns. We are Galashiels and, as you all know, we have a university campus unlike any other Border town.

'We aspire to be the main town and the economic capital of the Borders and we should be seen to setting progressive examples to other towns, not being controlled by them. We should take a lead in imaginative ways to control behaviour problems and not resort to outdated tactics which have no evidence of being successful.

'I believe that this move to reduce opening hours is a backward step. It will not only affect our business and increase the incidence of bad behaviour, but will also have a knock effect on other local enterprises - taxis, chip shops and other businesses that rely on the late-night trade.

'We believe that during these difficult financial times, it is incumbent on local councils and governing bodies to be seen to be supporting all business - especially, new, young enthusiastic and growing businesses - not introducing legislative practices which could finish us, and potentially other businesses!'

WHAT do you think about this story? Email our reporter at: amcgilvray@bordertelegraph.com

This article appeared in Border Telegraph 06 Jan 09

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Graham Gray
Unregistered User
Jan 11, 11:27
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As a taxi owner for the last 29 years I for one don't want up to 1000 people to descend onto the taxi rank all at once.

The best thing would be keep the clubs open until 4AM but only sell soft drinks from 2.30AM onwards, this is now being done at most clubs across the UK, I can remember clubs in London doing it way back in the 70s when i visited them, and it works well and is working well at the clubs that have introduced it across the UK

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