A 'cafe' in east Manchester which hosted a number of illegal club nights and parties during the last coronavirus lockdown has been shut down - as it was described as a 'deathtrap'.
The premises in Gorton - known as the Hyde Road Cafe or The Spot - flouted restrictions and disturbed locals as it used to hold a number of 'large-scale' events, which ran late into the night and saw violence erupt outside, Manchester council said.
The venue had no events licence, no alcohol licence and no certificates to serve food, town hall bosses said in a statement.
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Police were called to the building - at 554-556 Hyde Road, close to Belle Vue, which was formerly a bank - numerous times since the turn of the year and said they were met with 'abuse and violence', the council said.
Despite its occupier claiming to have renovated it, describing it as 'luxury', magistrates said it was in fact a 'deathtrap' and a 'very dangerous place' as they ordered it to close for three months, the town hall said.
Police were first called to reports of a gathering at the venue on the corner of Knutsford Road in March, according to a council statement.
On that occasion, five people were issued with fixed penalty notices for breaching Covid regulations, the town hall added.
In May, officers attended after reports of another gathering and found people fighting outside. One officer suffered injuries when they intervened, the council said.
In June, a 'large number' of young people were consuming alcohol and going inside the premises, the town hall said in its statement.
Then in July, Manchester council said it received information that the premises was being used to host an event for school leavers from a local secondary.
Police attended and found 'hundreds' of young people on the surrounding streets, who they said were 'hostile to officers and caused considerable disruption' to residents, the council said.
The fact children were present meant this was a safeguarding concern, town hall bosses added.
On July 24, the council issued a closure order, which was ratified by magistrates earlier this month.
The order means no one can enter the property – other than the owner or named individuals - for three months.
The building was bought in December 2020 by a private owner and sublet to another party, according to the council.
Neither party applied to the local planning authority for a formal change of use and no council tax or business rates have been paid against the property, the town hall said.
The main occupier claimed to have renovated the building into a space that includes a bar, dancefloor, beauty salon and luxury accommodation, the council said.
Town hall chiefs said it was in fact in a 'state of disrepair with exposed wires, uneven flooring and of a poor standard of cleanliness'.
The shutters were down when the Manchester Evening News attended on Thursday morning (August 12).
Coun Rabawaz Akbar, the city council’s executive member for neighbourhoods, said: "It beggars belief that the people behind this operation thought they could get away with running an illegal and clearly unsafe venue, which was quickly becoming a blight to local people.
"Nightclubs and similar businesses operate within strict regulations to keep their customers safe – all of which was ignored here, and during a pandemic.
"I shudder to think what could’ve happened at this premises had these unregulated events been allowed to continue.
"Council officers have worked really closely with officers at Greater Manchester Police to close down this premises and I thank them for their excellent support and partnership throughout this operation.”
Inspector Andrew Torkington, from the Gorton Neighbourhood Team at Greater Manchester Police, said: "Working closely with our partners at Manchester City Council, the neighbourhood and response teams have provided documentary evidence of the disorder, unlicensed and unregulated activities at 554-556 Hyde Road and the negative impact that they have burdened upon the community.
"The venue and the modifications are wholly unsafe.
"The alterations are shambolic, of poor standard and completed without appropriate permissions.
"Cleanliness, hygiene and regard to the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions did not factor in the illegal operation of this venue and both the local community and Greater Manchester Police fully support this closure order."
A spokesperson for the business told the Manchester Evening News : "We are just a family business trying to show our children that if you work hard, you will be rewarded.
"We have used our own money and money that was for our business. We have injected all of this back into the community.
"We haven't squandered a penny. Every single utensil or piece of equipment we purchased was all to contribute to [the] local economy.
"We have nothing to hide and would love all of the community in 12 weeks to come and see."
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