Wolverhampton Salon-Turned-Venue Retains Licence Despite After-Hours Incident
City of Wolverhampton Council's licensing committee has decided to allow Vaal & Vaal, a private hire venue on Raglan Street in Chapel Ash, to keep its operating licence. This decision follows a review requested by West Midlands Police after a serious incident at an unauthorised late-night birthday party in January.
Unreported Fight Leads to Licence Review
The venue faced scrutiny after failing to contact emergency services when a man was left unconscious following a fight during a post-midnight event on January 10. West Midlands Police confirmed the venue did not have a temporary event notice for this 18th birthday party, which exceeded their licensed hours allowing alcohol service until midnight, or 1am on Bank Holidays.
CCTV footage revealed the altercation occurred outside the venue around 2am, resulting in the unconscious individual. Despite this, no report was made to authorities at the time. Police expressed concern that venue owners appeared dismissive of the incident's severity and demonstrated inadequate knowledge and skills in handling such situations.
New Conditions Imposed for Continued Operation
During the March 17 hearing, the licensing committee agreed to modify Vaal & Vaal's licence with enhanced requirements. These include comprehensive CCTV coverage, detailed incident and refusal logs, registered door staff, and mandatory staff training. The venue must comply with these conditions to maintain its licence.
West Midlands Police highlighted multiple failures, noting staff did not intervene or assist the injured person. The venue admitted door staff were not adequately prepared during the incident and cited an administrative oversight for selling alcohol after permitted hours. CCTV showed drinks being served until 1:46am during the event that lasted until 2am.
Venue's Evolution from Salon to Event Space
The premises originally operated as a hairdressers and salon when taken over in 2018 but transitioned to hosting private parties and celebrations in recent years. The salon permanently closed at the end of January. Since opening as a venue, more than 200 events have been held there.
Interestingly, City of Wolverhampton Council recently approved Vaal & Vaal's application to extend opening hours to 2am, separate from the licence review. Police noted the venue owner emphasized this extension was crucial for business but showed limited understanding of the January incident's seriousness.
Additional Safety Concerns Raised
West Midlands Fire Service identified further issues, stating the venue lacked a suitable fire risk assessment and required certificates for fire alarms and emergency lighting. Decorations were not fire-resistant, and permanent lights above fire exits needed installation.
Police also referenced an earlier unreported incident where a man appeared unconscious outside the venue after a fight, which was neither reported to police nor mentioned to officers responding to the later 999 call. Authorities expressed ongoing concerns about management failures and unenforceable conditions on the current licence.
The committee's decision allows Vaal & Vaal to continue operating under stricter oversight, aiming to prevent future incidents and ensure public safety.
