A NIGHTCLUB has had its licence revoked by councillors who said they had ‘no confidence’ in the manager.

After Dark, 112 London Street, was the subject of repeated noise complaints by a family who live nearby.

A brawl at the club on November 30, 2018, spilled out onto the street and led to several police officers attending the scene.

Thames Valley Police argued because of this, and a perceived lack of understanding and experience, Reading Borough Council should revoke the premises licence.

Councillor Deborah Edwards, chair of the licensing committee, said: “Revocation is the only way to safeguard members of the public.”

The committee voted to revoke the licence at a meeting on June 18, after hearing from After Dark, the police and council environmental protection officers.

The club will appeal the decision and can stay open pending a decision by a magistrates court, which will hear the appeal.

John Barry, a solicitor who represented the club at the meeting, said: “After Dark is an institution and one of the oldest venues in Reading. It’s part of the community and part of Reading’s heritage.”

Mr Barry said although one family had complained several times about noise, ‘we haven’t heard from the silent majority’ of other people who live nearby and have not complained.

He also said nobody was injured at the incident on November 30.

PC Simon Wheeler said: “If we don’t make a decision for revocation, we are leaving public safety up for grabs and putting people at serious risk.”

He said it was ‘more by luck than judgement’ that nobody has yet been seriously hurt at the club.

Zee Khan, the manager of After Dark, said: "We will appeal the decision — and so it's business as usual going forward. We are disappointed as it has not gone as we expected.

"We acknowledge the concerns being raised at the hearing and are addressing them."

He told the committee he was investing in improving sound insulation and had learned from the event on November 30, which was an isolated incident.

After Dark hosts a mix of events, such as live bands, 80s DJs, movie nights and drag shows. The building has been home to clubs under various names for decades.