Paddington nightclub loses license after antisocial behaviour
The London club 'Ma Dame' has its license revoked after years of complaints
A London nightclub has had its license taken away after pictures revealed party-goers using the street as a toilet.
The Paddington nightclub, Ma Dame, has been stripped of its licence after years of complaints from neighbours about loud music and antisocial behaviour near residents homes.
Westminster City Council confirmed the decision to remove the license on Friday 22nd April, after a seven-hour debate.
Shocking photographs and at Ma Dame nightclub
On Friday, Westminster City Council, environmental health, and the Met Police raised concerns about crime, disorder, and public nuisance since the club began operating in 2015.
Councillors and licensing officials were shown photographs of human faeces, vomit and people urinating and defecating in residential areas near the club.
Erika Pilkington, who lives near to the club, said she moved out of her home after suffering from sleepless nights caused by loud music blaring from the club.
She added: âWe have got to a desperate stage of having no sleep weekend after weekend. I havenât lived in my own home for the last two months.â
Another resident told the council: âAfter being disturbed by noise as people come down our road having left Ma Dame, the following morning I will often have to avoid trash and human deposits in the street, this can be vomit, urine and faeces and the smell is awful.
âI now think twice about when I leave my home in the evening as I wish to avoid the groups of people who do not live on my street but are frequently there causing a nuisance.â
Nightclub Owner responds to losing license at Ma Dame
Club owner Jennifer Cassandri believes the antisocial behaviour is not a problem stemming from the club, she said: âI think the main problem isnât at Ma Dame, itâs outside Ma Dame, we try to keep people as much as possible inside.â
Ms Cassandri offered to get the staff to litter pick around the area and suggested building a gate at Celbridge Mews to stop people going down there when the club is open.
A lawyer for Ms Cassandri said it would be âdisproportionateâ for the council to revoke the licence.
She added that Ms Cassandri had tried her best to comply and some of the complaints were made when the club was not open.
âShe takes the representations and complaints âĤ with the utmost seriousness âĤ The licence conditions arenât routinely being broken, thereâs no evidence of Ma Dame operating outside its licensing hoursâ, she said.
Increase in complaints in the local area
A report by the councilâs head of licensing, Alex Juon, said: âSince the premises reopened there has been a significant increase in complaints from residents of the local area regarding noise, anti-social behaviour, litter, urination, human excrement, and use of nitrous oxide cannisters.
âThe original licence was issued in 2012 to a restaurant/entertainment venue, the licence has remained the same.
âThe premises with its current use is no longer suitable for the location it is in.â
The Met police and environmental health officials also supported the licence being revoked in the aim of public safety, preventing crime and disorder and public nuisance.
Cllr Scarborough said she has never had to scrutinise a night clubâs licence in all her eight years on the councilâs licensing committee.
She added: âWe expect our premises to be well managed, it does appear that this is not well run or managed and clearly there have been breaches of the conditions.â
In agreement, a lawyer for the council, David Matthias QC, said: âThese are premises that are in the wrong place, they arenât safely managed.â