Club without door staff reapplies for licence

A Wolverhampton club has applied for a new licence after previously opening without door staff and failing to replace an ageing CCTV system.

Beets Lounge in Pipers Row had its licence suspended last August for three months by City of Wolverhampton Council.

Emmanuel Ndecha Obase Etukeni from Beet Group Ltd has now applied for a new venue licence to sell alcohol from 12:00 until 02:00 Monday to Thursday, 12:00 to 04:00 every Friday and Saturday, and between 12:00 and 03:00 on Sundays.

Councillor Zee Russell, chair of the licensing committee, told Etukeni last year that members wanted to give him a second chance and the suspension was to allow him to "get his house in order."

The club would be stripped of its licence if Etukeni appeared before councillors again, the committee said.

West Midlands Police called for the licence review after visiting the premises in January and March 2025 to find no door staff working.

The club was using an outdated CCTV system that was only in use during opening hours and required a CD to be inserted manually to record footage.

Only three camera feeds were visible on the monitor with the rest "non-functional" according to the licensing review application, the hearing was told.

Etukeni said his sloppiness had "cost him a lot" but he had addressed the list of concerns and would not re-open until everybody was satisfied.

The club, formerly known as Manhattan's and Chicago's, opened as Beets Lounge in June 2024.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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