Police call for stricter licensing measures at The Vestry bar in Chichester

Stringent measures being placed on The Vestry follow the closure of the popular Thursdays nightclub in Oving, which shut suddenly in June.

Sussex Police state the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the prevention of public nuisance, had ‘been seriously undermined’ and an ‘acceptable level of duty of care towards the patrons was lacking’.

Bar placed under police probation

Police have asked the bar to install equipment to scan every person entering the pub, sharing alerts with other venues and determining if a document is genuine or counterfeit.

For customers over 30 without ID, staff must take a photograph which can be made available to officers on request.

Six trained and licensed door supervisors must be on duty from 10pm every Friday and Saturday evening and wear a body camera to record incidents – which can later be used as evidence.

Door supervisors also have to complete incident logs at the end of their shift and bar staff have to undergo thorough training delivered by an external company – then undergo refresher training every eight weeks.

A CCTV system must also be recording at all times the licence is in operation.

Owner Nicholas Marshall has already implemented a number of changes including a ‘challenge 25’ policy and work with a security company to provide staff with ‘conflict resolution’ training.

Mr Marshall, who has a wealth of experience in the industry, has also purchased an ID scanner for people entering the premises.

He added: “I have listened to police and changed the process at the Richmond and now at The Vestry as a result of comments and proposals that have been made by them.”

Solicitors acting on behalf of the bar told Chichester District Council’s alcohol and licensing sub-committee: ‘the problems in the past are all 
behind us’ and said The Vestry was a ‘committed member’ of the city’s pub watch group, ChiBac.

These measures have led to many raising concerns about the night-time economy in Chichester – some residents have called for a new nightclub in the city, fearing people will migrate towards larger cities for an evening out.

But police said they wanted to ‘send a clear message to those patrons who 
attend the premises with the intention of getting drunk, that this behaviour will no longer be tolerated’.

Jodie Hope, president of the Students’ Union at the University of Chichester, is positive for the future of the city’s nightlife, which she says offers young people a welcome change to the university campus.

“Chichester town centre is a popular place for students, particularly on weekends. It has a good atmosphere that the students very much enjoy.”

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