A bid to turn an abandoned social club into a vibrant new community centre and national base for junior darts has been approved despite neighbours’ concerns about noise, drugs and antisocial behaviour.
The former Patchway Sports and Social Club, which closed in October 2024, is reopening as Hangar61 after South Gloucestershire councillors granted a premises licence.
But the applicants’ request for alcohol and late-night hot food sales until 1am seven days a week was limited to Friday and Saturday by the panel, with last orders at 11.30pm from Sunday to Thursday at the venue in Norman Scott Park, Coniston Road.
Patchway town councillor Roger Loveridge, representing the 10 residents who objected, told the licensing sub-committee that many older people lived in bungalows that backed onto the park and were worried about the late hours.
But applicant Paul Cockram told the hearing that Hangar61 was further away from the houses than another nearby social club, Patchway Labour Club, which licensing officers said had a 1am licence.
Robbie Long, representing the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) which will run the premises, told councillors: “We don’t want to stay open until 1am. Our opening hours are going to be 11am to 11pm five days a week.
“If someone wanted to book a function, we’ll have the licence there to say we can stay open until 1am. But predominantly our hours will be 11am to 11pm. We’re predominantly for kids. We’re looking to work with Patchway High School.”
He said the JDC had 5,000 youngsters worldwide playing in its system, including as far-flung as Mongolia.
Mr Long said: “Seven days a week we’re going to have security. Everybody has to be a member to come in. There will be a free membership option which would be the old committee room at the front which will be a general public room. Everything else is going to be a members’ room.
“You won’t be able to come in unless you have a members’ card so we are doing our bit to keep away the troublemakers and we’re hoping that having a seven-days-a-week security guard on the door will help stop the drug issues and the noise issues for residents that the club has had in the past.”
The hearing was told Hangar61 had operated until now under a series of temporary event notices but that the only complaints had been about parking.
Indoor sporting events will be allowed from 8am to midnight daily and live music indoors until 11pm from Sunday to Thursday and 12.30am Fridays and Saturdays.
The application was supported by the town council and there were no objections from the police, environmental health or other authorities.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporter