Decision made on 'all night' opening plans for Sheffield LGBTQI friendly club
Council decides on ‘all night opening’ plan for club
Controversial plans to allow clubbers to party ‘all night’ at a venue on Chapel Walk, Sheffield, have been stopped, amid concerns for neighbours.
The well known LGBTQI+-focused Gut Level venue, has been running as a private members club for more than two years.
It took over the building, which was previously the site of the traditional tea shop, Andrews Cafe, in 2023, converting it into a mixed use venue comprising community venue/drinking establishment, opening until 2am at the weekends.
But bosses wanted extend those hours until 5am, to bring it in line with some of the venues on Sheffield’s nightlife scene, and applied to Sheffield Council asking to permission..
The request to change opening hours has been rejected - but the club will be able to open an hour later then previously on weekdays and Sundays.
A report into the plans by council officers said: “The proposed extended opening hours would be significantly later than would normally be permitted within the Night Time Quiet Zone. The proposed 5am close on Friday and Saturday nights would effectively allow the club to operate all night which is considered to pose an unacceptable risk of causing disturbance to adjacent residents.
“However the proposed extension of weekday (and Sunday) closing time from 10pm to 11pm is considered to be acceptable and, with safeguards in place, the use of the external terrace for occasional music events is also considered to be acceptable and unlikely to cause an unacceptable level of disturbance.”
Gut Level describes itself as a not-for-profit members community that relies on membership payments to cover its bills and keep the organisation running.
It states on its website: “Gut Level aims to be an inclusive space that puts the needs and experience of LGBTQI+ folk, women and gender minorities at the centre of what we do. Providing a safer space for social and cultural activities is one of our key aims and our membership policy helps us to achieve this. “
The club hosts gigs, club nights, workshops, and co-working.