Newark’s Club X on Cartergate has licence under review by Newark and Sherwood District Council following persistent noise complaints from neighbours

The manager of Newark’s only night club has defended his businesses after persistent noise complaints have led to a licence review and an uncertain future.

Newark and Sherwood District Council is reviewing the licence for Club X on Castlegate, Newark, and considering what actions should be taken — which range from not allowing people outside after 11pm, or even the club’s licence being revoked.

In response, the venue’s manager said that the nightclub had been good for the town and helped to increase trade for other businesses.

“We get a lot of local people who have been out at the pubs in town and finish the night with us,” he said.

"Since we opened all of the taxi drivers have said that they have made more money, the takeaways have seen more business and it has been good for the town.”

There have been complaints from neighbouring residents about excessive noise late at night, but the manager said that measures had been put in place to keep noise levels to a minimum.

He said: "We allow no more than 30 people in our outside smoking area at a time, which is controlled by a doorman, and we have signs inside and out asking people to keep the noise down and be respectful to our neighbours.

"We are in the town centre and people living in the town centre should expect there to be noise. Most of our neighbours don't have a problem.”

The club, which opened in summer 2023, brought the Grade II listed Corn Exchange building back into use after standing derelict for around a decade.

However, noise complaints have been made relating to both music and patrons.

Council officers met with the club manager to reduce the noise, after which music noise levels were reduced to an acceptable level.

Noise from patrons using the outside smoking area persisted and in July this year an the club was served with an abatement notice. This issue has so far not been addressed and the council have received further complaints.

As such Club X’s licence will now be reviewed, with the licensing authority considering a number of recommended actions, ranging from reducing opening hours to removing the venue’s licence altogether.

Other suggestions include limiting the number of people allowed in the smoking area after a certain time, or not allowing people outside at all.

Another recommendation would see closing time brought forward to 11.30pm from Monday to Thursday and on Sundays, with a 12.30am close on Fridays and Saturdays.

These suggestions were criticised by Newark Town Council’s planning committee, who at a recent meeting said they would ‘damage the night time economy’ and were ‘not proportionate’.

Matthew Skinner said: “I have sympathy with the neighbours, but at the same time they have chosen to live there.

“These changes are not proportionate and would only cause more damage than good.”

Neil Clark agreed, saying: “We want a night time economy. We want a town that is vibrant day and night.”

Barbara Corrigan added: “We are all supportive of the night time economy and providing opportunities for people of all ages. The proposed hours would be too restrictive and I would encourage officers to consider some of the other suggestions around restricting when patrons can be outside or how many, particularly the creation of a separate ‘quiet area’, which seems like a positive step.”

Newark and Sherwood District Council confirmed that the review is an ongoing matter and that the process would end around mid-October.