Operating Permit for Bar Withdrawn Less Than a Year After Launch

An establishment has had its operating permit withdrawn less than a year after commencing operations, due to consistent violations of its stipulated terms. The city council’s licensing sub-committee conducted a review of Zambezi Lounge’s premises licence, located on Attercliffe Road in Sheffield, on Monday. According to a report released prior to the gathering, the bar had been “continuing to carry out unauthorised licensable activities and repeatedly breaching conditions” since it was granted its licence on 31 October last year. The sub-committee was informed that these violations encompassed instances of “music still blaring” significantly past closing hours, and a single occurrence of cannabis consumption in the vicinity of the establishment. Furthermore, the report drew attention to an incident where an individual was assaulted by the club’s doorman. It was noted in the report that during an April inspection of the location, council officials discovered that 20 out of the 36 conditions stipulated in the premises licence were being violated. The committee further learned that throughout the preceding 12 months, several visits had been conducted to provide assistance, guidance, and cautions to those holding the licence. Following a detailed account of the violations, the multiple visits, and the counsel and aid provided, an officer from South Yorkshire Police requested that the councillors withdraw the premises licence. At the meeting held on Monday, attendees were also informed that the structure lacked the necessary planning permission to operate as a late-night establishment. As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the licence holder expressed regret for music being played late on certain occasions and acknowledged issues in that regard. He urged the committee members to recognize the enhancements that had occurred, despite also conceding that there had been “difficulties” and “shortcomings”. Concerning a complaint regarding an individual smoking cannabis close to the premises, the licence holder stated that the business did not endorse smoking whatsoever. His concluding remarks involved a plea to committee members to allow the premises to remain operational for community use, further offering to resign if necessary to ensure the business’s continuity. When questioned about why the committee should have confidence in him to transfer the licence to another operator, given his prior instances of misleading authorities, he responded to councillors by stating that everyone merited a “chance”. Nevertheless, the committee opted to withdraw the bar’s operating permit.