With good pre-application consultation we were able to agree some more sensible conditions with the Met Police Service, but still faced considerable opposition to the variation on noise nuisance grounds. We received fantastic support from, among others:
James Dean Bradfield, Manic Street Preachers
Andrew Trendell, NME News Editor
Mike Kill from the NTIA
Music Venue Trust
Many authors, producers and directors
The licensing sub-committee gave great weight to the history of the premises and the fact that it has created a safe space over many years in which it has played host to everyone from the Chemical Brothers to Edna O’Brien, Wolf Alice, Adele, Caitlin Moran, Horace Andy, Bon Iver, Florence and the Machine, Young Fathers, DJ Yoda, Fatboy Slim (who sorted his records in the toilets before playing), Kate Tempest, Alt-J, Arctic Monkeys, Al Murray, MGMT, Rudimental, Jarvis Cocker, Four Tet, Cold War Steve (his first public exhibition anywhere in the world), Jack White, Irvine Welsh, Saint Etienne, Black Midi, Shame, Hip Hop Karaoke (the legendary club’s longterm home) Jeremy Deller, Fat White Family, Doves, Laura Marling, James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers), Beck, the Avalanches (first UK DJ gig), Michael Kiwanuka, Artwork, Boy Azooga, Super Furry Animals, Baxter Dury, Goat Girl, Sleaford Mods, Hot Chip, The Horrors, Trojan Records, Vampire Weekend, Huw Stephens, Deb Grant, Nabihah Iqbal, the Charlatans, Frank Turner, Aphex Twin and Lily Allen.
Most importantly the sub-committee gave us the opportunity to set out the measures we would have in place to ensure the later hours would not create a nuisance. At the heart of this sits a system of positive engagement with the residents and Associations along with EHO.
What was most pleasing was the lead objector shaking my hand at the end and saying what a good presentation we made.
It just goes to show that a well thought out, pre-engaged application outside policy can be successful in Westminster.