News / Alfresco Disco
Secret location dance event granted premises licence
A dance music party for thousands of revellers at a secret location in east Bristol has been given the go-ahead after organisers scaled back the closing time from 4am to midnight.
Alfresco Disco also ditched initial plans for an outdoor stage for the Rave of the Decade event on February 26.
A licensing hearing was told two residents, a local councillor and environmental health raised concerns about noise because the venue, which the Bristol arts and music events company has asked not to be named because it would spoil the surprise for attendees, is near homes.
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Frankie Mann, director of Alfresco Disco, which has been running 15 years and has held shows in quarries, warehouses, boxing gyms, old magistrates’ courts, woods and under railway arches, said about 2,500 ticketholders would be there but were never told details about the exact location or any acts until the day itself.
He told Bristol City Council’s licensing sub-committee most of the customers would be transported to the site on specially laid-on shuttle buses and that there were detailed plans in place for traffic management, public safety, security and noise levels.
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Mann said a previous event at the same location received no complaints.
“We don’t want to make a nuisance so we have changed our hours. We have a very good track record,” he told the City Hall panel on Thursday.
He said there would be no glass and that the area would be clear of litter by 7am on the Sunday.
Company production manager Victoria Holden said: “We have had zero incidents at our events. We want to ensure residents aren’t disturbed.”
She said a hotline would be in place for neighbours, who have been notified about the event, if they had any complaints on the day.
Organisers of Alfresco Disco have scaled back the closing time from 4am to midnight – photo: Ross Silcocks
Councillor Tim Rippington told the hearing: “My concerns were that this is a residential area with old people and key workers.
“I very much welcome the change in hours because 4am would have been a bridge too far.”
City council pollution control officer Mark Curtis said that because it was now primarily a daytime event, noise levels could be “a bit more relaxed” but that there must still be conditions attached to the premises licence.
“Hauling it back to midnight makes a difference and residents can get to sleep after midnight,” he said.
The sub-committee granted a one-day licence for alcohol sales, music and late-night refreshments from 2pm to midnight.
Main photo by Pixabay
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