Club keeps licence after drinks promotion row

Mambo on Silver Street in Doncaster

A bar and nightclub has kept its licence following police concerns about crime and disorder linked to the venue.

South Yorkshire Police requested that Doncaster Council's licensing sub-committee met to review customer safety at Mambo on Silver Street.

Officers objected to a promotion called "Crisis Buster" where drinkers with a wristband could enjoy unlimited alcohol and entry to six bars during a four-hour period.

However, the committee decided that the promotion could not be directly connected to crimes recorded near the venue, and agreed that Mambo's licence could remain with conditions attached.

'No evidence'

The police had claimed that they had attended a number of incidents in the area, including assaults, that they believed involved people who had taken part in the promotion.

However, licensing officers ruled that there was no evidence all of the crimes were associated with the drinks deal, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.

Photographs showing people who were inebriated and vulnerable were presented to the meeting, but it was decided that it could not be certain they had taken part in the promotion.

A solicitor on behalf of the nightclub's owners noted that crime and anti-social behaviour had increased in the Silver Street area in recent months, but that the promotion was introduced two years ago.

While police had suggested that the "Crisis Buster" was "irresponsible", a risk assessment ruled that this was not the case.

However, concerns were raised by council officers over food hygiene, cleanliness and allergens, which the solicitor confirmed would be taken on board.

Police had stated prior to the meeting that the owners of the venue “did not offer any solutions” to the safety concerns raised, and had refused to implement several recommendations or begin using a free ID scanner which had been offered.

However, the committee noted that welfare chaperones had since been introduced in the area to assist vulnerable people.

The conditions imposed on Mambo included the enforcement of a Challenge 25 policy, a violent incident protocol and ensuring CCTV was in operation at all times.

All staff at the premises must be trained in dealing with customer behaviour, intoxication, spiking, refusal and incident recording.

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