Reprieve for nightclub despite man’s drug death
A BIRMINGHAM night spot is to keep its operating licence following a man’s death after councillors were told it is not one of the city’s ‘drug clubs’.
Police stated there had been a ‘significant turnaround’ in the running of the club at a licence review of Bambu, in China Town.
But it was explained to councillors sitting on the licensing sub-committee that ‘drug consumption is changing’, making it harder to detect.
The hearing had been prompted by a man’s death at the club in the early hours of June 10, following a Vietnamese charity party.
Police discovered extensive evidence of drug-taking, including bags of white powder, empty ‘dealer bags’, and an empty box which had contained nitrous oxide canisters.
The council initially suspended Bambu’s licence only to lift the sanction at a subsequent hearing when a raft of temporary measures were proposed, including stepping up security, staff training, drug checks and installing a defibrillator.
The club has since hosted three of its in-house Pink Panda nights without serious incident, and the decision means it can continue to trade with the interim measures now made permanent.
“It really felt like a more professional set-up, they were taking things a lot more seriously,” said Pc Ben Reader addressing the committee.
Sarah Clover, licensing barrister representing Bambu, admitted staff and security ‘took their eye off the ball’ for the Vietnamese party which had been organised externally. She argued the venue had no history of serious drug problems, saying the club was not observing what was happening inside the premises vigilantly enough.
Explaining the changing nature of drug-taking, Ms Clover said: “Evidence shows people taking drugs from thumbs and hands, not from tables, not cutting, not that kind of thing.
“It’s touching of the nose with the hand or a thumb. It’s actually quite difficult to detect, particularly if you’re not vigilant for it.”
Licensing officer PC Deano Walker said there had been ‘painstaking’ work with the club in order for it to continue to operate.