A STALYBRIDGE nightclub described as ‘violent’ and ‘mismanaged’ and being ‘associated with serious crime’ has had its licence revoked.
Decades Heaven and Hell, on Market Street, was hauled before licensing chiefs after its permit was suspended.
And at a hearing on Tuesday, March 31, permission for the venue – owned by premises licence holder Ian Whittaker – to serve alcohol was removed.
The final straw was an alleged assault in the early hours of Sunday, March 1 in circumstances described as ‘a customer headbutts another customer on the dancefloor, before choking the victim until he was unconscious and unresponsive.’
Paperwork also told how the designated premises supervisor (DPS) was not present and no-one on site could operate the CCTV to show police officers footage of the incident.
After further delays, footage was set but it was not what was requested and it was not compliant in order to progress the investigation.
In a statement, PC Craig Foley, Greater Manchester Police’s licensing officer for Tameside, said: “I have serious concerns over the safety of members of the public attending this violent, mismanaged nightclub that is seen a number of DPSs but still the same problems with same premises licence holder.
“The footage sent was also not GDPR complaint and not the original footage, merely a recording of someone recording the footage on their mobile phone.
“This cannot be accepted as evidence in criminal court proceedings.
“On February 12, Nicola Healey from Tameside Council issued Decades with a section closure notice for being unable to operate the CCTV and provide evidence that the system is operating correctly.
“The premises licence has detailed CCTV conditions that have never been adhered too.
“There is a concern over the management of the premises and their capability to run a safe venue for members of the public to visit.
“The section 18 assault investigation is currently in its infancy and police enquiries are continuing.
“There is little doubt that the incident inside the premises is a serious assault resulting in serious injuries.”
The decision of Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Liquor Licensing) committee came as an appeal over a 2024 decision to reduce the operating hours, which allowed it to open at its previous permitted duration, was pending.
But documents added: “Since this hearing we have seen a consistent number of violent incidents taking place at the nightclub, a panel hearing to oppose a problematic DPS, a closure notice due to health and safety breaches.”
In mitigation, Decades Heaven and Hell’s current DPS, Alex Tate, said the CCTV issues had been solved.
In an email, he stated: “When some staff close up, they turn all the lights off via the fuse box switches and they are accidently switching the fuse off for the CCTV.
“I have already put measures in place to make sure this never happens again and have fixed the current time, so will be no more issues going forward.”
A report from Loni Davies, Tameside Council’s regulatory compliance officer, was particularly scathing.
It said: “Since then the premises licence was reviewed, issues have continued and the licensing objectives, particularly public safety, prevention of crime and disorder and prevention of public nuisance, have been persistently undermined.
“On July 18, 2025, following evidence that a statutory noise nuisance from the premises was substantiated, and an abatement notice was served.
“The Premises Licence Holder, Mr Whittaker has also been prosecuted for failing to properly dispose of waste from the business.
“The circumstances of this prosecution are that Mr Whittaker failed to comply with a notice which was served on him under Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, requiring that he provide evidence that a waste contract was in place and waste transfer notes were kept, a duty under the Environmental Protection Act.
“On April 4, 2024, a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) was issued to Mr Whittaker as he had failed to comply with the request. The FPN was not paid.
“Management and Designated Premises Supervisors at the premises have repeatedly failed to cooperate with both the Licensing Authority and Greater Manchester Police.
“Further showing unwillingness to engage shown by ignored phone calls and failure to attend scheduled compliance visits.
“The Licensing Authority has lost faith in the ability and willingness of the Premises Licence Holder, successive Designated Premises Supervisors to promote the licensing objectives and keep people safe. Therefore, the licence should be revoked.”
Tara Mistry, who lives next door, said her sleep has suffered and it has taken a toll on her mental health.
She added: “How much more do you expect me to take? Everything is on top of me and I am suffering.”
An e-mall from a nearby resident detailed: “I have several videos of people fighting outside with severe noise and police have attended at the scene.
“It’s kept me awake. I’ve had to let go of one of my security jobs as I was only getting about an hour’s sleep before I had to get up for work, in that sense I had no option but to give up that job up.
“When Decades is open, the next day outside my front is always full of fag ends, chewing gum and all sorts.
“I’m at the end of my tether, now it’s got to the stage where I’m looking for another flat to live at.”
Phil Morton from Tameside Council’s licensing team said a string of complaints had been made in the past few years, including in August 2024 following a number of violent assaults.
He said: “We have heard how it has been a problem bar for a number of years. It has gotten significantly worse over the last few years.
“We have seen people on the streets outside the nightclub sighting with other people going past. In essence the premises has been a problem for a number of years.”
A suspension of the licence pending a full review was granted on March 4 and the decision was upheld five days later following an appeal by Mr Whittaker, who officers were told intends to sell the business and surrender his own licence, before this final decision was made.