New conditions added to Newark nightclub Club X’s licence following Newark and Sherwood District Council licensing committee hearing into noise complaints

A town’s only nightclub has had extra conditions placed on its licence, but is safe from closure despite noise complaints.

Newark and Sherwood District Council’s licensing committee met on Wednesday to review the licence of Club X, on Castlegate, following persistent noise complaints from neighbours.

Council officers worked with the club manager earlier this year to successfully reduce noise levels from inside the premises.

However, noise from patrons using the outside smoking area, to the rear of the building, continued and in July, the club was served with an official abatement notice.

As a result, the licensing committee had been asked to considered a number of possible actions, ranging from reducing opening hours, to removing the venue’s licence altogether.

The club — which opened in the summer of 2023 — currently operates from 10pm to 3am on Friday and Saturday nights, averaging around 200 to 250 people at peak times.

Valerie Frank lives on Castlegate with her daughter and family, close to Club X, and spoke on behalf of complainants.

She said: “What goes on is not the fault of the gentleman [Club X manager, Aygun Acinik], but can be quite frightening at times. It’s the customers more than anything.

“During the summer months it was heaving. There was standing room only. You go to sleep and are woken up by people screaming at each another.

“It’s about the quality of life — it’s like being in the middle of a New Year’s Eve party frequently.

“My daughter would not have bought the property if the Corn Exchange had been open at that time.”

Aygun Acinik explained that in response to the noise abatement notice, the business had put a number of measures in place in an attempt to comply with council requests.

He added: “If there is a problem, we want to rectify it sooner rather than later. We want to run the business in the right way.”

Previously, the number of people allowed in the smoking area at any one time was limited to 30, but this has now been reduced to 20.

Aygun stated that the number of people in the area is often much less, but that once the 20 person limit is reached, a strict “one in, one out” system is used.

This limit is also enforced by door staff, who are also there to ensure that any nuisance behaviour is stopped before it gets out of hand.

No benches or seating have been provided in the smoking area, and alcohol is not allowed to be taken outside — this is to avoid people lingering and making noise for longer than necessary.

In response to the noise complaints, the smoking area has been moved further away from the complainant’s property.

Notices have also been posted around the club and on exit doors asking customers to leave quietly and to respect neighbours.

The club’s management team say that the implementation of these measures has been successful since they were put in place at the end of October.

The council’s community protection manager, Yvonne Swinton, also confirmed to the committee that “no further issues” had been found following the reinstallation of noise level measuring equipment.

It was added that although a certain level of noise from those outside the club persisted, it was no high enough to trigger any kind of enforcement action.

After hearing representations from both parties and council officers, the hearing was adjourned while all arguments were considered, and all relevant documents and evidence were reviewed.

Ultimately, it was decided that measures put in place by Club X management were sufficient and that no further action was required at this stage.

The club must adhere to the 20 person limit in the smoking area, monitored at all times by a member of staff, and the area is to be used for smoking only as alcohol will not be permitted outside.

The noise abatement notice will also remain in place indefinitely, meaning that if further complaints are received they will be investigated.