Swiss Cottage residents object to D’Den Legacy's application for extension of hours

Published: 17th March, 2011
by JOSIE HINTON

A NIGHTCLUB that has been the subject of an ongoing investigation by licensing officials has launched a bid to extend its opening hours. 

Residents of Swiss Cottage have reacted with horror to an application from the owners of D’Den Legacy to keep their doors open later.

The Finchley Road club currently has a licence to sell alcohol until 10.30pm on Sundays, until midnight on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 2am on Thursdays and until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, when it also has a licence to play music until 4am.

But the venue’s owners now want to stay open until midnight on Sundays and Mondays – provoking 13 letters of objection so far from neighbours.

Swiss Cottage councillor Roger Freeman said he has received numerous complaints since D’Den Legacy opened a year ago from people who say their lives have been made a “misery”. 

Nigel Walmsley, who lives in Belsize Road, said: “The Legacy is the cause of persistent public nuisances in the area. Regularly groups of young people leave the club late at night intoxicated and go down Belsize Lane shouting, arguing and using threatening behaviour to each other. I am woken several nights a week by such behaviour.”

Maryann West, of Finchley Road, added:  “I work full-time and dread the weekend knowing I will face broken sleep. I have witnessed people urinating in shop doorways, vomiting on the pavement, fighting amongst themselves, arguing, the noise goes on and on.”

D’Den Legacy manager Gbemi Daniel said: “We have been meeting with Camden Council and doing a number of things to raise awareness with staff and customers of their surroundings.

“We have increased our CCTV coverage, our security guards and we have a strict door policy. I am confident there will be no further problems.”

A spokeswoman for Camden Council said: “The Den Legacy nightclub has been the subject of investigations following complaints received from local residents. 

“The council has identified a number of areas for improvement and Den Legacy have agreed to progress additional measures to address levels of noise from music and people leaving the premises.

“The management team at the premises have co-operated with the improvement project and officers from the council’s licensing and noise teams will continue to work with them to deal with any problems where they are identified.”