A recently reopened Derbyshire nightclub with historic ties to pop icon Cliff Richard has hit early issues with neighbours complaining about noise and anti-social behaviour.
The Regal Nightclub, in Nottingham Road, Ripley, reopened in July after several years under the new ownership of Kane Oliver, who also runs gastropub Oliver’s Pub & Kitchen, in Eastwood, and retaurant the Lion by Olivers in Brinsley – both in Nottinghamshire.
However, an Amber Valley Borough Council licensing hearing will now take place on Monday, August 21 with residents complaining about repeated late-night disruption.
This comes in response to the venue’s plans to extend alcohol sale hours from 3am to 4am and the opening hours from 4am to 4.30am, along with the removal of a maximum capacity restriction of 550.
Mr Oliver when approached for comment in response to the issues raised by residents, said: “We’ve been delighted with the huge support Regal has received since reopening from not just the Ripley community but residents from Derby, Derbyshire and right across our region.
“The club is an iconic one and we have heavily invested in it to ensure that future generations can enjoy a Regal Experience.
“Our application is for a small increase in opening hours so that we can make it even better.
“We are very conscious of responsibilities to Ripley and work hard to ensure we are good neighbours.”
Three residents, who all live nearby in Nottingham Road, have written formal objections to the venue’s plans, which has triggered the hearing, with applications dealt with by council officers when no concerns are raised.
Abigail Howard wrote: “I currently have a noise complaint against this establishment being investigated due to not being able to sleep in my own home during their current opening hours because of the loud music, bass, noise from the smoking shelter and the noise of people leaving the venue after closing.
“Extending their licenced activities will contribute to the loud noise and heavy bass coming from the Regal until even later at night/early morning.
“The noise of patrons leaving the premises currently goes beyond their licenced hours, if their hours are extended then the noise from customers will go on later as well.”
Christine Garner wrote: “Since reopening on July 1, 2023, The Regal has been the source of noise which is causing a public nuisance for myself and other local residents.
“Music – with a thudding bass – being played inside the venue is audible outside of the venue and is penetrating my property, disturbing me in my own home and preventing me from sleeping until at least 3am on the nights the venue is operating.
“Other nuisance noise is being caused by The Regal patrons in the smoking area at the rear of the venue and the immediate surrounding area of the venue, with shouting, screaming, singing, arguing etc, disturbing me in my own home until around 4am on the nights the venue is operating.
“Increasing the licensing hours from 3am to 4am will mean local residents will have to endure the nuisance noise for an even longer period of time, in the early hours of the morning, which is totally unacceptable.”
Susan Crisp wrote: “Granting an extension to the licensing hours for The Regal until 4am is simply unacceptable, ludicrous and an affront on public decency.
“The residents in the immediate area have been overlooked -not considered and completely ignored, please do not grant this extension.”
She claimed that “liquid and solid” human waste was being deposited outside the venue, along with litter, and that noise and other anti-social behaviour is being caused by customers, with the police regularly present.
The Regal is famous for its ties to Cliff Richard, who performed at the venue on May 3, 1958, with the performance being the first occasion he used his stage name Cliff Richard (and the Drifters) – instead of his birth name Harry Webb.
Club promoter Harry Greatorex, who ran the programme of gigs at the Regal Ballroom at the time, is also credited with helping Sir Richard create his stage name.
This tie is commemorated with a blue plaque outside the venue, installed by Ripley Town Council in 2008.
The borough council’s licensing committee will have the power to approve or reject the application, or modify it with new conditions including tweaked hours aimed at controlling its operation.
