Bournemouth's Halo nightclub set for first event since lockdown

Halo in Exeter Road is hosting a sold out socially-distanced tables only event.

With a limited capacity of 246 guests, compared to the usual 850, the venue has had to adapt and be creative to put the night on.

The nightclub underwent a major refurbishment last winter and was open for just a few weekends before being forced to close due to the pandemic.

Halo co-founder Ty Temel said he was “excited” to get the venue back open after so long.

“We are trying to keep it as close to the Halo experience as possible with regards to production,” he said.

“We are still going to have the smoke and the light show.

“The music will be quieter to abide by Covid guidelines and the whole dancefloor is covered in seating.”

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Discussing the organisation that went into the event in light of advice around the pandemic, he said: “They are guidelines. The hardest part of it is there is nothing clear. There is no clear volume decibel it can be, for example. It is how you interpret it.

“We laid everything out as we interpreted it and as we felt was safe and on Thursday we had environmental health and police in for a walk around prior to opening, just to ensure they were happy and everything was safe.

“We have been working very closely with them and they have been very supportive.”

Guests will have their temperature scanned on arrival before having their ID checked and a slightly altered search protocol.

Hand sanitiser will be available throughout the venue, with social-distancing between the tables and a one-way system in and out.

“Our ultimate aim, as always, is to provide a safe environment for people to have fun. Safety has had to ramped up with the Covid guidelines,” added Mr Temel.

Halo co-founder Ty Temel. Picture: Wesley Glover/ LA Media

“This is our first night back open and we still have tables available for next Saturday.”

Mr Temel described as “tough” the year to date with the pandemic leading to venues being closed and cancellation of events, such as Sandpolo and SandFest which he is involved in. He said the nightclub industry had still been left out to dry with a lack of support from government.

Read more: Bournemouth nightclub owner of warns venues could collapse without government help

“Just because we are opening on Saturday and we are sold out, it is not us out of the trees as such because we are opening with 246 capacity,” said Mr Temel.

“Our normal capacity is 850 with footfall of 1,200 to 1,500 people through the doors throughout a night.”