PROTESTORS have had a sense of humour failure over plans to open a comedy club in Durham City.
Kayvan Khazaee wants to open a club to be called Jumping Bean in Neville Street, near Durham’s bus station in North Road.
Mr Khazaee is applying for a licence for the club to serve hot drinks and food from 8am, and alcohol from noon until 11.30pm.
The premises – currently a pizza shop – would also be licensed for stand-up comedy performances.
Members of the Crossgate Community Partnership say the club could be an asset to Durham, but they fear if the comedy acts fail to take off, it could become another “vertical drinking” establishment.
Roger Cornwell, chairman of the partnership, said: “We are not impugning the good faith of the applicant, but feel that if his vision does not work we could be left with a licence that could be exploited.
“Another operator might try to run a high-volume vertical drinking establishment.
“This type of change has happened before elsewhere in Durham City.
“The application for Jumping Bean is too sketchy and we feel we must oppose it in its present form.”
Mr Cornwell added the partnership is concerned the small size of the premises could lead to customers spilling out on to the pavement, causing noise and disruption to nearby residents.
The application is also opposed by Durham Police.
“The objection is on the basis this is primarily a residential area,” said Inspector Colin Dobson. “The club will impact adversely on the quality of lives of residents in the area.
“It’s nature and style could lead to public nuisance and disturbance within Neville Street.”
Durham County Council’s licensing committee is due to consider the application from Mr Khazaee, of Riding Mill, Northumberland, at a meeting in the council chamber at Spennymoor on January 15.
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