'Unlimited drinks' deal prompts bar licence review

Police have raised concerns about incidents at Mambo bar in Doncaster

A bar and nightclub's premises licence has come under debate following repeated reports of crime and safety concerns linked to a drinks promotion.

Owners of the Mambo venue in Silver Street, Doncaster, have been accused of failing to take action to protect customers despite several warnings over a deal that allows people to purchase unlimited drinks within a four-hour period.

South Yorkshire Police have now asked Doncaster Council’s licensing sub-committee to review the licence.

A spokesperson for Mambo denied there were safety issues and said all reasonable recommendations had been taken on board.

String of incidents

According to a document submitted by police to Doncaster Council ahead of the 27 August meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee, 13 separate crimes have been linked to the venue since March 2023, including assault, battery, sexual assaults and an incident involving a knife.

They said a string of incidents were linked to revellers who had taken part in the drinks offer known as "Crisis Buster", the Local Democracy Service reports.

The promotion allowed customers to access six different bars and be served unlimited drinks between 8pm and midnight with a £20 wristband.

A witness told police that they saw concerning incidents involving individuals wearing the wristbands “on a regular basis”, another statement to be analysed by the sub-committee at the hearing said.

Another document submitted by the police said a 16-year-old boy who had been reported missing visited Mambo, purchased a Crisis Buster wristband and was served alcoholic drinks without having to show his ID.

In their submitted response ahead of the hearing, Mambo's spokesperson queried the incident and said further clarification from police was needed.

In 2023, police met with the club owners twice to discuss concerns over the promotion but were told there was no intention to stop the offer.

In March 2024, police suggested an action plan to ensure that licensing objectives were followed and offered a free ID scanner for the venue, both of which were refused.

The "Crisis Buster" ticket was named after the cost of living crisis, and the participating bars promoted it as a "complete night out" in Doncaster.

The deal also includes unlimited pizza. It excludes shots, "bombs", wine and prosecco.

In a lengthy statement to be considered by the sub-committee, a spokesperson for Mambo said that with a population of over 300,000 in the city of Doncaster, "people problem element and difficult issues were inevitable".

"The licensing act is written within this context. The objectives are just that: objectives," they said.

“All reasonable recommendations have been taken on board and implemented and there are no issues regarding a drinks promotion and crime and disorder reports.”

South Yorkshire Police's application will be discussed at a meeting on Tuesday.

Update 5 September: This article was amended to make clear the allegations to be discussed by the licensing sub-committee were submitted in documents ahead of the hearing and published on Doncaster Council's website.

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