Zoo Bar (Halifax, West Yorkshire)

The Tramshed and Zoo Bars were night clubs in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England brought to national attention by the media as a "haven" for underage drinkers, when it became one of the first establishments to be closed under the auspices of the Licensing Act 2003, which came into effect at midnight 23 November 2005 in England and Wales. [ [http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Press_notices/archive_2005/dcms166_05.htm New Licensing Laws Come Into Effect At Midnight Tonight] " [http://www.culture.gov.uk/ Department for Culture, Media and Sport] November 2005"]

About

The Tramshed and Zoo Bars were side-by-side nightclubs in Halifax featuring rock, emo, indie, punk and ska music. They were located on Lord Street close to the former site of Samuel Webster's Fountain Head Brewery. The property the clubs were located in has now been demolished and the land used for social housing.

Police officers raided the nightclub on 18 November 2005. During the raid, police reportedly identified 420 of the 500 people in the club to be underage drinkers. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article596374.ece Courts try new ways to close down rowdy pubs] . "The Times 25 November 2005."] More than a dozen youths were arrested following scuffles with the police. A 28 day temporary closure order was applied for by the police on 27 November 2005.

This 2005 incident was cited as the third such raid of the Tramshed and Zoo Bar in which under-age drinking was proven. Previous occasions included December 2003, when almost half of the 150 revelers were found to be under 18. At that time the youngest was 13 and a member of the bar staff was 15. In July 2004, more under-age drinkers were found. Immediately after that incident, attempts to revoke the license under the old licensing laws failed. A local inspector said that, "We have tried to engage with the licensee on numerous occasions without success... It is the most serious breach of under-age drinking we have come across and there is historical evidence it has happened there before." [ [http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1264747 Court may close club where 400 caught drinking under-age] "Yorkshire Post." 24 November 2005.]

Effects

After it was closed, the Halifax Zoo Bar incident became an international lightning rod in Europe, as one paper cited it as a "notorious kiddie boozer" where "legless" youths could do whatever they wanted. The nightclub was identified in an American study regarding youths and alcohol, as it was the topic of an alcohol advertisement. [(2006) "Adverts 'link' to binge drinking," "Yorkshire Post." 3 January 2006.]

Two years after its closure, consequences of the Licensing Act 2003 are still being felt. Another establishment in Halifax, Fagins Bar, was also closed for underage drinking, after being raided in December 2005. [ [http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=2178948&sectionid=700 Under age drinks bar shut down] "Halifax Evening Courier."] . The Trax night club in Havering was raided at 9pm on the 25 November for drug dealing. [ [http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?story=RP2620079J&news_headline=police_shut_down_troubled_nightclub_ Trax Bar closed down] "LIFE STYLE EXTRA" 26th November 2005] and its license revoked [ [http://www.lga.gov.uk/PressRelease.asp?lsection=29&id=SXE277-A783E316&ccat=29 Trax Bar Licence revoked] "LGA Press release no: 228/06"] . Cardiff City has also implemented its usage to close down clubs.

In the first year of the Licensing Act 2003 being passed, 100 establishments in England and Wales had their licenses revoked, with some temporarily suspended and others having conditions of use attached. [ [http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Press_notices/archive_2006/DCMS148_06.htm Licensing act one year on, "Early days but encouraging signs" - Woodward] "UK DCMS Press Release 148/06"] .

The building which housed the Tramshed and Zoo Bar has been sold to developers and is currently undergoing a renovation that will convert the spaces into flats. [(2006) "Ex-nightclub sold for 24 luxury apartments," "Halifax Courier." 8 June 2006.]

Live Music Performances

The Zoo Bar (and later the Tram-Shed) nightclubs would host live bands particularly on a Saturday night with varying frequency.Many of the artists came from the West Yorkshire area and usually performed the Punk, Ska or Indie genres of music.The bands that performed have gone on to receive varying degrees of national acclaim (see Notable Bands).

For an extended period during 2004–2005, in response to the increased attendances on Friday nights (and as a result the decreased popularity of the club on a Saturday) a stage was set up and bands encouraged to perform on Saturdays. The night was sponsored by local music shop First Floor Music.

The Tram-Shed part of the nightclub has also previously played host to the heats of 2005 The Pulse of West Yorkshire battle of the bands.

References

External links

* [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo051121/debtext/51121-01.htm Hansard - James Purnell MP, Licensing Act Debate 21 November 2005
* [http://www.hxmusicscene.co.uk/ Halifax Music Scene - website]
* [http://www.thezoobar.net The Zoo Bar] website.