Nightclub loses its licence over lock-ins

Jongleurs has been forced to close its Glasgow comedy club after the venue it used was stripped of its alcohol licence – just two months after the stand-up nights started.

Club Reina has had its licence suspended for 12 months on Friday after being busted for an illegal lock-in that went on so late that it disturbed workers in the offices above the morning afterwards.

And CCTV footage subsequently seized from inside the venue showed lines of white power being snorted from the bar by nightclub staff including a 17-year-old girl.

Even the landlord’s lawyer Jack Cummins, admitted to the licensing board that: ‘It’s my client's position that on the balance of probabilities that the white powder is cocaine.’

Councillors on the licensing panel called the behaviour of the club  ‘sleazy’.

Police had to break down the door just after 11am on March 28 having been called by the manager of another business in the same building. Officers say they found four staff members apparently drunk and under the influence of drugs, including the 17-year-old.

The bust came six weeks before Jongleurs started running Saturday-night comedy nights in the venue,  which they otherwise have nothing to do with operating. The chain had been desperate to find a new home since losing its previous base in the city, the Mansion House nightclub, when Novus Leisure decided to pull the plug in January with no notice.

Landlords Himshley Properties, had long been trying to get the nightclub tenants, a company called Reina Scotland, evicted from the Hope Street premises.

Mr Cummins told Glasgow City Council’s licensing committee: ’The tenants are in breach of their lease on various levels. They have used the premises for illegal and immoral premises, which is Forbidden by the terms of the lease. 

‘Long before these matters came to light my client has been trying to get the tenant out. Before the seizure of the CCTV footage we had no awareness of the drug issue. We are a hostage to people currently occupying the premises.’

He successfully argued that the licence should be suspended for a year, during which time they might hope to get new tenants, rather than revoked permanently.

Councillor Bill Butler said: ‘The CCTV footage showed an appalling situation especially due to the presence of the underage female. Sleazy is a word I would use. 

‘What is apparent is that no one is shocked by the use of drugs and being with drinks after time. There is no contest in terms of the breach of the licence.’

And Inspector Gillan of Police Scotland was scathing of the club’s designated manager, Hayridden Keles.

She said: ‘Mr Keles is nonchalant about the white powder and shows no signs of changing his policy. Officers have been told that they would not be gaining entry to the premises unless they have a warrant and there have been arguments at the door to gain entry.  Mr Keles is a very hostile individual and his staff have been uncooperative.’

The CCTV footage showed after-hours drinking on two nights previous  to the bust, ending at 10am and 7.30am, when the venue is licensed to 3am. Again white powder was seen being snorted.

According to police, Mr Keles told officers he was unaware of this – even though the CCTV showed him being present when the events took place, even lining up the powder that was snorted.

Jongleurs posted a message on its Facebook page on Saturday saying: ‘We regret to inform you that we have to cancel our show tonight (18th June) and next Saturday’s show (25th June) due to an issue with the venue resulting in its temporary closure. These are the only two shows affected.’

However, the company is no longer listing any further dates in Glasgow. 

Neither Club Reina nor Jongleurs has yet responded to a request for comment.

Published: 20 Jun 2016