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Life Nightclub in Sittingbourne High Street could be forced to shut earlier following noise complaints

By: Claire McWethy cmcwethy@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 20 April 2022

A Sittingbourne nightclub, under review after a spate of violence, could be forced to shut earlier following noise complaints.

Following a mass brawl, reports of underage clubbers and allegations of doormen hitting customers, Swale council will be reassessing Life’s premises licence at a crunch meeting next week.

There is no Life Nightclub advertising in Sittingbourne High Street

The incidents, details of which have just been released by police, took place between September last year and this January.

They include a clubber being hit on the head with a bottle at 1am while in an outside smoking area last September.

On December 12, several youths, reportedly just 16, were caught on CCTV leaving at 3.18am.

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On Christmas Eve a clubber alleged a member of door staff assaulted them at 1.30am while at 3.30am on New Year’s Day there was a mass brawl of 40 people, which police are still investigating.

Most recently, on January 16, there was another alleged assault by a member of door staff on a customer.

The side entrance to Life Nightclub in Sittingbourne

Kent Police has demanded Swale council holds a licensing review in response to the incidents, citing concerns over crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance and the risk to children.

The force is also calling for bouncers at the High Street nightspot to wear bodycams and all customers to be searched and have their IDs scanned as they enter the building in future.

They want door supervisors wearing hi-vis vests to be sent out to help with dispersal at closing time and to search all customers on entry, except for private functions with the written permission of the police.

Swale council’s own officers are now requesting the conditions go further, and reconsider the club’s hours.

It comes as the Environmental Protection team received a number of complaints about loud music from the premises and anti-social behaviour from revellers out on the street last September.

Following police concerns the council will be reassessing the premise license of Life due to noise complaints. Stock Image

In a letter, Julie Oates, Mid-Kent environmental protection team leader, said: “I support the review being called by the police.

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“This area of Sittingbourne has changed since the premises licence was first granted. I agree with the additional conditions put forward by Kent Police in an attempt to alleviate the issues.

“The licensing committee may also wish to consider the late-night opening hours of the premises.

“With an increase in residential premises in the vicinity, these hours are excessive and are likely to be contributing to the issues outlined by the police.”

Action was not taken on the noise concerns earlier as the main complainant withdrew their evidence as they were worried about repercussions.

'I've only been twice and after the first time I went I vowed to never go again'

The club, which is allowed to open to 4am daily, and 12.30am on Sundays, is licensed to Haydn Pugh.

Speaking about the club, 21-year-old Kent university student, Josh Ould said: "It isn't the best club I've been to but it's all that's really available in the area for young people looking for a night out.

"I didn't even know there was a nightclub here at first, the building is so out the way with little advertising.

"But when inside the staff are nice and drinks are cheap, you can't complain too much."

However, others don't agree. Paige Bower, a 19-year-old from Sittingbourne, said: "The club is awful, there is lots of fighting.

Josh Ould, a 21-year-old University of Kent student

"It costs £10 to get in, and although the drinks are reasonable the atmosphere is terrible.

"I've only been twice and after the first time I went I vowed to never go again, but when friends begged me to come I gave it another chance but I definitely regretted it.

"I will never go back."

However, one Sittingbourne pub goer we spoke to, defended the venue, saying: "The nightclub staff are nice, the prices are good and there are always noise complaints down the High Street.

"That is nothing new, Life nightclub is what it is."

The licensing hearing will take place on Monday.

Life Nightclub has been asked for a comment.

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