Time called at bar (From Gazette Series)

Time called at bar

ONE of the few nightspots in Dursley has been closed down.

The Warehouse wine bar and bistro, more popularly known as one of only two nightclubs in the town, shut its doors for what was probably the last time on Saturday.

The bar, based on the corner of May Lane and Parsonage Street, has been earmarked for a mixed-use but mainly residential development.

In a written statement to the Gazette, Warehouse owner Terry Cole revealed his intentions for the development, although he did not rule out the possibility of the bar re-opening at some stage.

He explained: "The Dursley Warehouse is temporarily closed pending determination of a planning application to be submitted to Stroud District Council.

"In circumstances whereby obtaining planning permission may become protracted, the Warehouse will reopen later in the year with greater emphasis on the nightclub."

Numbers of people visiting the Warehouse have dwindled over the past 12 months, particularly since Mr Cole opened a Warehouse in Stroud's Russell Street.

He added that the planning application would involve the demolition and rebuilding of part the Dursley Warehouse and the alteration of the rest.

"The planning application refers to the demolition of the May Lane section and other ancillary buildings on the site," he said.

"It also involves the division of the Parsonage Street section into three commercial units with flats above, the erection of ten three-storey town houses fronting May Lane and the erection of three flats to the rear of the site."

Although some nearby residents may welcome the closure and the reduction in noise from late drinkers it would bring, the closure of a second Parsonage Street business in as many weeks could worry many others in the town.

The Warehouse gained notoriety in 2003 after the death of 16-year-old Charfield girl Natalie Dibden.

Natalie fell to her death from an ambulance when she was taken ill after being served numerous alcoholic drinks at the Warehouse.

At her inquest in 2004, Gloucester coroner Alan Crickmore criticised the bar for allowing under age drinking to take place.

Mr Crickmore said: "Had Natalie not been binge drinking in the Warehouse the circumstances we have heard about were unlikely to have occurred."

However, in subsequent visits, Dursley police found no problems with the age of drinkers in the bar.