Following a full review of two premises licences, a nightclub and a restaurant, both in Birmingham, have had their licences revoked following a number of Covid-19 legislation breaches.
Nakira, at 121 Suffolk Street Queensway, in the city centre, was subject to a full review at a Licensing Sub Committee hearing on 23 October 2020.
Police called for an expedited review of the premises licence following a number of breaches, most recent being that officers found it was operating past the 10pm curfew, with customers still inside the venue at 12.40am on Saturday 26 September.
Licensing Sub Committee A revoked the premises licence and removed Anton Gasparov as the Designated Premises Supervisor at a hearing on 1 October 2020.
La Reference (Petite Afrique),160 Hockley Hill, Birmingham, was subject to a full review at a Licensing Sub Committee hearing on 26 October 2020.
Police again called for an expedited review of the premises licence following a number of breaches, most recent being when officers found it was operating past the 10pm curfew, with customers still inside the venue at 10.25pm on Saturday 26 September.
Licensing Sub Committee A revoked the premises licence and also asked that Rodrigue Kuoamo Tankeu be removed as the Designated Premises Supervisor.
Full details of the full review and decision are contained within reports on the council’s website.
Cllr Philip Davis, chair of Licensing Sub Committee A, said all businesses have a responsibility – not only to their staff and customers – but to the wider community and there must be consequences when COVID-19 guidance is simply ignored. This is potentially a matter of life or death and Birmingham City Council will continue to work with West Midlands Police to enforce the guidelines.
It is clear that the management at both venues failed to follow Government guidance and were operating with no regard for social distancing or public health.
The way in which these premises were being run was endangering the public by risking the spread of COVID-19: It is this kind of behaviour that has contributed to restrictions being placed on Birmingham to try and control the sharp rise in cases in the city.