Why Are NightClubs Illegal In Ireland?

Kruse · 31-08-2013 12:16PM #1

It's glaringly obvious to any night owl that has left the country in the last 20 years that there is a distinct difference between Irish nightlife and that from abroad. In fact Ireland has the earliest closing times in Europe. Some argue that this goes back to legislation drawn up by the British. Thus far, those draconian night-time entertainment laws have not been updated by our representatives. Here's the situation:

*To play music and sell alcohol after 1am, venue owners must apply for further licensing permits totaling tens of thousands of Euro per annum. These permits are called SEO's and there is a certain allocation of them. To obtain these SEO's, a venue owner must fill out applications relating to the specific night and file it with the district court on an individual case-by-case basis. There are several other hoops that have to be jumped through also. Can you think of anything more bureaucratic? What an unmitigated mess!

Chucking everyone out on the street at the same time (because of the current laws) is a recipe for disaster. Sure, we have a lot of pubs/bars and they play their role but we don't have any nightclubs. The current law describes them as "dancehalls with attached bar". I really believe we should grab this opportunity with both hands. Dublin could be a great weekend destination for club-goers similar to London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Ibiza and start to attract some of the biggest DJ names in the world.

It would really be a shot in the arm for tourism and safety too.

MagicMarker · 31-08-2013 12:17PM

Cos nightclubs are ****e.

Duff · 31-08-2013 12:19PM

Getting shítfaced at a lock-in is far better.

Banjo String · 31-08-2013 12:21PM

Because you touch yourself at nights.

Kruse · 31-08-2013 12:22PM

MagicMarker wrote: »

Cos nightclubs are ****e.

Duff wrote: »

Getting shítfaced at a lock-in is far better.

Great arguments you have there. They're so good, they've managed to avoid the question altogether.

MagicMarker · 31-08-2013 12:23PM

Kruse wrote: »

Great arguments you have there. They're so good, they've managed to avoid the question altogether.

Didn't even read your post tbh.

NuckingFacker · 31-08-2013 12:23PM

Kruse wrote: »

It's glaringly obvious to any night owl that has left the country in the last 20 years that there is a distinct difference between Irish nightlife and that from abroad. In fact Ireland has the earliest closing times in Europe. Some argue that this goes back to legislation drawn up by the British. Thus far, those draconian night-time entertainment laws have not been updated by our representatives. Here's the situation:

*To play music and sell alcohol after 1am, venue owners must apply for further licensing permits totaling tens of thousands of Euro per annum. These permits are called SEO's and there is a certain allocation of them. To obtain these SEO's, a venue owner must fill out applications relating to the specific night and file it with the district court on an individual case-by-case basis. There are several other hoops that have to be jumped through also. Can you think of anything more bureaucratic? What an unmitigated mess!

Chucking everyone out on the street at the same time (because of the current laws) is a recipe for disaster. Sure, we have a lot of pubs/bars and they play their role but we don't have any nightclubs. The current law describes them as "dancehalls with attached bar". I really believe we should grab this opportunity with both hands. Dublin could be a great weekend destination for club-goers similar to London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Ibiza and start to attract some of the biggest DJ names in the world.

It would really be a shot in the arm for tourism and safety too.

I agree with you. Sadly, we are ruled by a bunch of Teachers and solicitors from Mayo, who consider two pints and a walk home to be "a mad night out" and legislate accordingly.

MonstaMash · 31-08-2013 12:23PM

Kruse wrote: »

Great arguments you have there. They're so good, they've managed to avoid the question altogether.

Welcome to 'After Hours' pilgrim...this should be fun

:P

31-08-2013 12:25PM

Went to a reunion in Tuam recently. At midnight a group of us decided to go into the town to a bar. Was there til 4am and place was still busy and drinks flowing.
Who says everywhere closes at 1am.

starlit · 31-08-2013 12:27PM

Are they? :0 they just close by 2 or 2.30am or so. Its illegal to be open longer than that unless they have a special licence. There are restrictions for last time they serve at the bar maybe.

stoneill · 31-08-2013 12:29PM

Because if you haven't shifted before 1am then there no hope for you.
Have yis no homes to go to ladies and gents.

NoCrackHaving · 31-08-2013 12:35PM

sugarman wrote: »

Youre talking bollox. In more cases it more common most countries close earlier or at the same time of us baring a few such as some you mentioned.

The whole US/Canada generally close at 2am latest MAYBE a couple of 3am but thats pushing it.

In the Nordic countries, Sweden, Denmark, Norway.. they all close at 1/1,30am. And tough tits if you have a pint or 2 in hand. Youre turffed out when the clock hits 1/1.30 regardless. Or if youve had more than 4pints youre deemed drunk:eek:

Then you have Italy, Spain, France etc.. that are simliar again to ourselves.

But you do have a point, the option should be there and not just nightclubs. Bars too. The whole of temple bar open till 5am or so weekends would be great for business and tourism. A defined area of the city that can be managed and controlled easily by police too.

Well that's definately wrong. Try finding a bar that is busy before midnight in Spain, they don't exist. Opening times in Spain are usually until 6 or 7 am.

Otherwise I agree with you though.

Oh and Op if you think Ireland is ****e for nightclubs try Italy, the concept of bars/nightclubs basically doesn't exist for the most part.

Kruse · 31-08-2013 12:44PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Went to a reunion in Tuam recently. At midnight a group of us decided to go into the town to a bar. Was there til 4am and place was still busy and drinks flowing.
Who says everywhere closes at 1am.

You're getting confused. You said "bar". Yes, but nightclubs are illegal.

THIS is a bar.

http://toocoolforjesus.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/people-at-Bar2.jpg

THIS is a nightclub. THIS is what is illegal in Ireland.

RachaelVO · 31-08-2013 12:46PM

sugarman wrote: »

Youre talking bollox. In more cases it more common most countries close earlier or at the same time of us baring a few such as some you mentioned.

The whole US/Canada generally close at 2am latest MAYBE a couple of 3am but thats pushing it.

In the Nordic countries, Sweden, Denmark, Norway.. they all close at 1/1,30am. And tough tits if you have a pint or 2 in hand. Youre turffed out when the clock hits 1/1.30 regardless. Or if youve had more than 4pints youre deemed drunk:eek:

Then you have Italy, Spain, France etc.. that are simliar again to ourselves.

But you do have a point, the option should be there and not just nightclubs. Bars too. The whole of temple bar open till 5am or so weekends would be great for business and tourism. A defined area of the city that can be managed and controlled easily by police too.

Exactly... I remember being in Luxembourg for the weekend a few years back and I was very surprised at how early the city closed down, even at the weekend. Turns out if you want a good night out you head over the border to a town in Germany

Ficheall · 31-08-2013 12:48PM

Kruse wrote: »

I
Dublin could be a great weekend destination for club-goers similar to London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Ibiza and start to attract some of the biggest DJ names in the world.

Well, when you put it like that...

Banjo String · 31-08-2013 12:48PM

Kruse wrote: »

You're getting confused. You said "bar". Yes, but nightclubs are illegal.

THIS is a bar.

]http://toocoolforjesus.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/people-at-Bar2.jpg[/url]

THIS is a nightclub. THIS is what is illegal in Ireland.

Too cool for jesus. :pac:

kylith · 31-08-2013 12:48PM

sugarman wrote: »

In the Nordic countries, Sweden, Denmark, Norway.. they all close at 1/1,30am. And tough tits if you have a pint or 2 in hand. Youre turffed out when the clock hits 1/1.30 regardless.

I found that in Boston. We were served drinks then immediately told that they were closed and to get out. Had to knock back a long island iced tea and hit the road. No concept of drinking-up time.

COYW · 31-08-2013 12:50PM

NuckingFacker wrote: »

I agree with you. Sadly, we are ruled by a bunch of Teachers and solicitors from Mayo, who consider two pints and a walk home to be "a mad night out" and legislate accordingly.

Two pints? You cannot compare the irresponsible drinking culture of the Irish to that of our central European cousins.

Son Of A Vidic · 31-08-2013 12:50PM

Kruse wrote: »

Dublin could be a great weekend destination for club-goers similar to London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Ibiza and start to attract some of the biggest DJ names in the world.

London? Berlin? Ibiza? Dublin has no hope of ever competing with any of those clubbing destinations.

starlit · 31-08-2013 12:51PM

No happy hour in the states? :eek:

recourse · 31-08-2013 12:52PM

Its bad enough if you live next to a Pub to hear the noise at closing time. And once or twice a month the emergency services called to deal with someone who has fallen on the street.

No way to a night club .. Not unless its somewhere so far away it does not bother the locals.

So No.. Not in my back yard,, not now or ever.

FionnK86 · 31-08-2013 12:53PM

My friend played an acoustic gig in London at 3a.m. last week! Never seen anything like that in Ireland, apparently there was 200 people in a packed out bar, all singing along and up for it at that hour! Would've love to have seen that...its a shame theres nothing like that I know of in Ireland

MonstaMash · 31-08-2013 12:54PM

Used to be a cool unofficial jazz/bar in Montmatre, Paris in the 90's called 'Le Chat Noir'...all the jazz muso's used to flock to the place when they finished up the day gig to party & jam :cool:

Fell out of there many's a night at the crack of dawn, even started liking jazz

Kruse · 31-08-2013 01:02PM

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

London? Berlin? Ibiza? Dublin has no hope of ever competing with any of those clubbing destinations.

But why not? We'll never have the chance if we don't deregulate the strict nightlife laws. Sure, Dublin is far smaller than Berlin and London but perhaps you might have a point. After all Tripod had to close it's doors because of Coppers and Krystals (two bars). So maybe the market just isn't there for it. Perhaps we Irish prefer getting dressed up and mingling in bars over pop music. Which is a shame because Tripod came the closest to being an actual "nightclub".

Carl Cox played at Tripod in 2009 which by todays standards is astonishing. Even though I don't like the guy, Paul van Dyke played there too in 08, as well as John Digweed, Booka Shade, Armin van Buuren, Loco Dice. We had Groove Armada in Dublin too. But those years are gone now. DJ's just don't see Dublin as a viable or credible night spot anymore.

Nodin · 31-08-2013 01:06PM

Kruse wrote: »

But why not? We'll never have the chance if we don't deregulate the strict nightlife laws. Sure, Dublin is far smaller than Berlin and London but perhaps you might have a point. After all Tripod had to close it's doors because of Coppers and Krystals (two bars). So maybe the market just isn't there for it. Perhaps we Irish prefer getting dressed up and mingling in bars over pop music. Which is a shame because Tripod came the closest to being an actual "nightclub".

Carl Cox played at Tripod in 2009 which by todays standards is astonishing. Even though I don't like the guy, Paul van Dyke played there too in 08, as well as John Digweed, Booka Shade, Armin van Buuren, Loco Dice. We had Groove Armada in Dublin too. But those years are gone now. DJ's just don't see Dublin as a viable or credible night spot anymore.

We are a state governed by arseholes. Worse yet, we vote them in.

MonstaMash · 31-08-2013 01:13PM

Grooverider & Goldie on the same night in The Kitchen back in the day...still get rushes goosebumps thinking about it

The_Valeyard · 31-08-2013 01:30PM

Probably because people would loose track of time/no leave and go home, etc.

In Berlin last year, went to some really cool massive nightclub with the lads,

Only reason we left was we were out of cash, went outside, sun was coming up.

Deadly craic though.

Sofiztikated · 31-08-2013 07:13PM

Kruse wrote: »

But why not? We'll never have the chance if we don't deregulate the strict nightlife laws. Sure, Dublin is far smaller than Berlin and London but perhaps you might have a point. After all Tripod had to close it's doors because of Coppers and Krystals (two bars). So maybe the market just isn't there for it. Perhaps we Irish prefer getting dressed up and mingling in bars over pop music. Which is a shame because Tripod came the closest to being an actual "nightclub".

Carl Cox played at Tripod in 2009 which by todays standards is astonishing. Even though I don't like the guy, Paul van Dyke played there too in 08, as well as John Digweed, Booka Shade, Armin van Buuren, Loco Dice. We had Groove Armada in Dublin too. But those years are gone now. DJ's just don't see Dublin as a viable or credible night spot anymore.

Twisted Pepper.

they've had some big names in the last couple of years, Jeff Mills, Ben Sims, some proper techno legends.

Residence nights, recently have had Dada Life, and more.

there's rumours of Carl Cox coming back at some stage in the future as well.

goose2005 · 31-08-2013 07:15PM

ah shure don't ye have to get home in time to milk the cows?

HoggyRS · 31-08-2013 07:18PM

To be fair if we were allowed to drink until 4 or 5am there would be mayhem on the streets. People would intially go out at the same times and hence be drinking 3 hours longer, it would take time for people to adjust. Basically a huge headache for the gardai if they altered opening times.

minidazzler · 31-08-2013 07:26PM

HoggyRS wrote: »

To be fair if we were allowed to drink until 4 or 5am there would be mayhem on the streets. People would intially go out at the same times and hence be drinking 3 hours longer, it would take time for people to adjust. Basically a huge headache for the gardai if they altered opening times.

Sending 15000+ drunk people onto the streets at 2 am all looking for more drink and/or pussy leads to bigger trouble than if people sauntered away when they were done/ out of money.

Why Are NightClubs Illegal In Ireland?

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