CAPONE’S nightclub in Dursley will now close at 3.30am on Friday and Saturday nights after its hours were reduced from 5am at a licensing hearing.

The hearing into the licensing application for Capone’s nightclub in Dursley was held today (Friday, August 28) in the chambers of Stroud District Council.

Representatives were made on behalf of the club itself, Gloucestershire Police, the district council’s environmental health team, Dursley Town Council and local residents.

The application from the nightclub requested a licence to serve alcohol, play live and recorded music, and stay open until 5am from Thursday through to Sunday.

Ultimately it was awarded a licence to stay open up until 2am the following day on Thursdays and Sundays and open until 3.30am the following day on Fridays and Saturdays.

A number of conditions were placed on the premises by the council including the use of CCTV cameras, door staff having to remain in post until half an hour after the last patron leaves and a person monitoring noise from the outside of the building each hour during operating hours.   

Most of the concerns raised during the hearing related to anti-social behaviour and noise disturbances.

Those objecting argued that a closing time of 5am was too late, suggesting it should be reduced by at least a couple of hours.

Cllr Matt Nicholson spoke at the meeting on behalf of Dursley Town Council.

“The council do see the need for local businesses to thrive but we do need to take into account views from all of our residents,” he said.  

“Some people living in the town would have liked us to come here today and objected entirely to the club opening, but we have reached a compromise.

“Should a licence be granted we would like the hours to be reduced to 3am to help ease issues of crime and disorder.”

Ronnie Harding is the secretary of gardening group Dursley in Bloom. She spoke at the hearing about vandalism in the town from patrons of the nightclub affecting the work of the group.

“I’m not against Dursley having a nightclub,” she said. “But I am against the late opening hours.

“We in Dursley and Bloom have had flower beds trampled, planters tipped over and, just recently, a number of hanging baskets dismantled and left on the street.

“I understand that there isn’t another nightclub in Gloucestershire that stays open until 5am. Why should a small town like Dursley be subject to this kind of behaviour?”

Matthew Phipp of TLT Solicitors, speaking on behalf of Capone’s owner Stavros Antonio said the club was keen to improve and regain the trust of the surrounding community. He and Mr Antonio were welcoming of the majority of the changes.

More to follow next week.