Karaoke bar faces closure threat

The venue, known as KTV Bar, breaches a catalogue of regulations on fire and electrical safety according to inspectors, who have visited several times in the past few weeks.

A report to be presented to licensing chiefs says the owners have "shown a blatant disregard for public safety at the premises despite numerous levels of intervention".

According to Sheffield Council health protection officer Shaun Gibbons, the owners of the bar in John Street, off the city's London Road, were warned they faced action.

In one inspection, officers discovered a group of 10 Chinese students who were studying in Sheffield.

They were all drunk and were smoking in breach of licensing laws.

Mr Gibbons says the premises, which were granted a licence earlier this year on the strict understanding that conversion work would be carried out, had since been open unlawfully.

Concerns have also been raised by Sheffield's safeguarding children board about the presence of young people at the venue, and a prohibition notice has been issued by fire officers.

In an application to have the bar closed, Mr Gibbons adds: "Despite several telephone conversations and meetings, works as agreed to promote public safety have never been carried out.

"It is felt necessary and proportionate to request a review of the premises licence with a view to revoke the licence."

Mr Gibbons' report includes a series of photographs which show fire escape routes are cluttered with items including shopping trolleys and show dirty and inadequate toilets.

A fire escape door is shown tied shut with cable.

An email included in the report by Sheffield licensing officer David Baum also details illegal activity including gambling taking place at the nightclub, which was also witnessed by council officers.

Mr Baum's email says: "I visited the premises on March 5 2010 at 23.25. It was clear the premises were operating not in accordance with the licence as none of the building works had been carried out.

"They were operating as a karaoke bar in six makeshift rooms. There were about 70 people on the premises and they were all drinking and smoking. Many were participating on the karaoke machines and others were gambling.

"Even members of staff were smoking on the premises. There was a makeshift kitchen in the warehouse with a barbecue for cooking and there was a lot of raw chicken and prawns on a table.

"After walking around the premises it was more than clear there were many issues with with the premises with regard to health and safety and the risk of fire."

Mr Baum says he returned to the premises on March 10 to check if work has been carried out to improve the environment at the bar, but found it open in the same state as before.

Staff were still cooking food on an outdoor gas barbecue powered by LPG cylinders and at 11.55pm large groups of students were arriving to take part in karaoke sessions.

On this occasion licensing officers were told by groups of angry Chinese students that they had booked a karaoke room for five hours at a cost of 280 which included all food and drink.

Nobody from the company which operates the bar, International Unite (UK) Commercial Development Co Ltd was available to comment on the report.

The licence for the bar will be reviewed at a meeting of Sheffield Council's licensing committee in the Town Hall at 10am on Thursday.