Mantra could close after being told to shut at 1am
Richard Cutcher • Published 14 Jun 2012 10:00
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A NIGHTCLUB could close after the new owners were unable to convince licensing chiefs to let them to stay open until 3am.
The Royal Borough's licensing panel sub committee decided Mantra, in Goswell Hill, should not remain open later than 1.30am on Friday and Saturday nights, at a meeting at Windsor Leisure Centre
on Wednesday.
The club's previous owner, Big Red Monkey, was wound up on Monday, March 12, and its new proprietor, 24-year-old Micky Garner, has been keeping the club open until 3am at weekends by using a series of temporary licences.
Mr Garner had applied for a permanent licence to serve alcohol until that time, but after the panel's decision, he told The Observer: "The premises will not be able to operate under these terms.
"The night time economy is struggling already because shops can sell cheap booze so people do not come out until late. Sixty people will lose their jobs if we close."
The panel heard opposition to the application from Thames Valley Police and residents in Castleview House, in Bridgewater Terrace, behind
the club.
Sally Shanly, representing the residents, said they had long suffered from revellers leaving the club, depriving them of sleep and making them feel unsafe.
Mrs Shanly said: "The sound of the bass beat can be heard thumping through the rear of Mantra when music is
in session. People urinating, copulating and sitting down to eat food on residents' doorsteps are examples of what goes on.
"We believe that, if anything, Mantra's trading hours should be reduced not increased."
The police said the club had a poor record for dealing with anti-social behaviour and had previously not co-=operated sufficiently with police when handing over CCTV footage.
They did accept there had been some improvement of their dealings with Mr Garner since he took ownership in March.
Mr Garner is undecided as to whether to open the club this weekend or save his last
temporary licence for Royal Ascot next week. He is considering appealing the licence panel's decision.
This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 14 Jun 12
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