Plans for Kirkwall's new nightclub move ahead as
councillors agree licence
(From The Orcadian dated October 19, 2000)

Glasgow-based designers - who have transformed several famous city centre nightclubs - are being brought in to work on Orkney’s state-of-the-art music venue and nightclub.

Quinn McMahon have worked on key venues in Glasgow, such as the Tunnel and Buddha Bar and Club, according to local businessman Neil Stevenson, who got the go-ahead for a provisional grant of licence for a new club and music venue last week.

Mr Stevenson said the designers would be visiting once the planning and licensing matters had been resolved to view the site at the former Orkney Seafoods factory on Ayre Road.

“They will then draw up plans which will hopefully be approved early next year with an estimated completion date of the ground floor late 2001,” he said.

The building is being transformed into a music venue including nightclub for 650 people, recording studio, music school, museum, shop and box office.

It was after a marathon debate at last Thursday’s area licensing board meeting that members finally gave the go-ahead and granted a public house licence.

Once that was decided it was back to the drawing board to agree an extension to permitted opening hours.

Mr Stevenson had asked for a 2am opening on Fridays and Saturdays, however, members gave the go-ahead for a 1am opening on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and 12 midnight every other night.

The board have left it open for Mr Stevenson to reapply for a further extension - the outcome of which will determine the scale of the development, he said.

“I intend to go back to the next meeting of the licensing board and reapply for a further extension. If I am unsuccessful I will have to go back to the drawing board and rethink the size of the development.”

Members heard objections from neighbouring hotels and properties, namely the Ayre Hotel, St Ola Hotel and the Orkney Housing Association involved in the Kiln Corner Development. Over provision, undue public nuisance, a possible increase in noise levels and vandalism in the areas were argued by the objectors.

Solicitor Mr Graham Sutherland, speaking on behalf of Roy Dennison from the neighbouring four-star Ayre Hotel, said they had concerns about levels of noise coming from within the premises itself and from people spilling outside afterwards.

“He (Mr Stevenson) intends to use the venue for live music events, by their very nature they are loud. 650 people is a considerable number of people.

“The other concern is the nuisance which may be caused by the people themselves when they come out. If we are talking about 650 people leaving the venue at roughly the same time, then these people are going to be in high spirits and going to be wanting to talk to each other.”

He said there was a likelihood some would be aggressive after drinking.

Mr Sutherland argued that Mr Dennison’s clients were mainly tourists aged over 50.

“Mr Dennison believes that due to the public nuisance likely to be caused these people will not want to stay at the Ayre Hotel.”

Mr David Fairnie, acting for Mr Stevenson explained that the 650 people would not be new to going out in Kirkwall and most of them probably already did so. He added that the likelihood of people hanging around at the pierfront with no shelter was unlikely.

Mr Sutherland, who was also speaking on behalf of the St Ola Hotel, said: “The objection relates to over provision in the area, which I would say was from the Torvhaug to the Motor Hoose. They are not objecting to the applicant or the proposals, they are just saying provide them somewhere else.”

Again Mr Fairnie argued that he would regard the locality to be most of Kirkwall, excluding the Lynnfield Hotel on the outskirts.

The Orkney Housing Association’s lawyer Ann Robertson said their main objection was towards the scale and extent of the Ayre Road project.

They feared potential tenants of the Kiln Corner Development may be discouraged.

Mr Stevenson (29) and his partner Jackie Sutherland (26) were both present at the meeting, and delighted at the result.

He explained that the project had been split into two phases, with the ground floor incorporating the nightclub, the music heritage centre, shop and box office.

Mr Stevenson, who runs Grooves Records in Albert Street, said the second phase of development, taking in the first floor, would incorporate the smaller bar/venue along with the recording studio, rehearsal room and music school.

He is keeping the interior design and name of the venue close to his chest, although he did say it would not be themed.

“I am keen to get going now, the decision at the meeting means the whole thing is a live project.”

Market research was carried out in Orkney to gauge the support for such a venture, which proved people of all ages were overwhelmingly in favour of it.

“It is vital to the venture that it is flexible and adjustable and essential that the entertainment suits all tastes. Live music is going to be a big part of it. We will hope to try and get bands up from south who will be supported by local groups,” he added.

It is expected that the new venue will employ three full-time staff and up to 25 part-time.

Chairman of the licensing board, Mr Roderick McLeod said it had been the most challenging application to come before members in his time.

“We have taken consideration of the objections on the grounds of over provision, undue nuisance and disturbance to the St Ola Hotel and Ayre Hotel and Orkney Housing Association. In my view in weighing this up against the advantages of the proposed venue, and the extent to which the applicant has set out very clearly the way he proposes to run this venue, my recommendation is we grant this application.”