Bournemouth DYMK club secures longer weekday opening hours

Subject to conditions, DYMK in Poole Hill is permitted to trade for an extra hour and a half weekly on Wednesday and Thursday from 1.30am to 3am – with alcohol to be sold until 2am.

Bosses of the establishment, which is popular within the LGBTQ community, have insisted they will aim to close on said days at 2am to allow for an orderly dispersal period until 3am.

Prior to the application being heard at a meeting of the BCP Council licensing sub-committee on November 24, representations for and against the premises licence variation were received.

DYMK operator Shaun Mitchell, who leases the premises from landlord Greene King, said: “Our aim has always been to welcome all age groups from 18 to 80 and to create a safe and friendly environment for our community.

DYMK club in Bournemouth

“We have held many charity events over the years using ten notices and have never had any complaints. We have made this application following discussions with our customers about what would improve their nights out.

“In particular, we were keen to make sure that customers looking to stay out later did not have to leave our premises and go elsewhere where they may not feel as safe.”

However, BCP Council environmental health officer Andrew Hill said residents in surrounding properties were being “severely impacted” by noise.

He told the committee how, while residents accepted living near such an establishment would result in noise at weekends, such disruption on weekdays was “completely unacceptable”.

“I have no confidence in this operator being able to control the noise impacting the residents,” he said.

One resident added: “I don’t sleep at all sometimes at the weekend. When you can’t sleep it affects your wellbeing, the way you act and the way you work.”

Poole Hill in Bournemouth (Image: Newsquest)

However, when pressed by licensing solicitor Piers Warne – acting on behalf of DYMK – it was discovered that the last noise complaint against the premises was in September 2021.

In addition, a recent special notice for a Halloween event at the club was granted by Mr Hill who raised no noise issues at the time.

Mr Warne said he felt the club was being blamed for all noise in an area which houses similar establishments, including The Vault and The Dancing Jug.

Mr Mitchell added: “We take the happiness of our neighbours very seriously. However, it is clear that DYMK has been held responsible for a number of issues that clearly are not related to the premises.”

Following the meeting, permission was granted for the extended trading hours.