A Weston-super-Mare venue that, over the years, has hosted a strip club and multiple nightclubs, will never be a nightclub again.

Club Freelove was the latest nightclub to operate from the venue but the owner of the building says that after the “absolute nightmare” of having them as tenants, he now wants the place to become a restaurant.

Kerry Kimitri owns the freehold to 40 Boulevard and leases out the ground floor venue.

Two years after signing the lease with a “young lady” who wanted to run the nightclub he said: “You could now buy yourself a nice car with the money she owes me.”

The club has been closed since November 2 after Mr Kimitri removed the designated premises supervisor — effectively shutting the club down.

Police claim several incidents took place while she was leaseholder of the club, which went by the name Club Freelove.

On one night, it is alleged that no age checks were being carried out despite a large number of underage people being in the club for an 18th birthday. While this was happening, police say the leaseholder was seen having sex with one of the bouncers in the ladies toilet.

David Campbell, Mr Kimitri’s lawyer, added that after the club had been shut and the locks had been changed, the leaseholder “broke in” to the club.

Up before North Somerset Council ’s licensing subcommittee on January 12, Mr Kimitri said: “She’s out. She’s gone. The place is boarded up.”

He added: “It won’t be a nightclub ever again.”

Andy Manhire, police liquor licensing officer, said: “It is believed that the leaseholder took over the premises in late 2020.

He added: “Issues with the premises quickly started to appear.”

In one case, a woman had been sexually assaulted after leaving Club Freelove “unsteady on her feet.” Police said there were questions about how much alcohol she had been served.

On another occasion, a man was stabbed on leaving the venue after an altercation inside but did not want to pursue the matter with police.

Describing another incident, Mr Manhire said: “A male turned up to the premises wearing a stab vest, carrying a metal pole.”

He made threats to the leaseholder about money being owed.

After another case of sexual assault, Mr Manhire claimed that there was “an issue” getting the CCTV footage from the venue. He said: “A […] female was sexually assaulted in the premises. When she left she was further sexually assaulted in the Grove Park area.”

He said CCTV footage was handed over “only after officers threatened to seize the CCTV system.”

The police also provided a video to the licensing subcommittee that had been verified as showing someone underage being served alcohol at the bar. The councillors on the committee said they would accept this without viewing the video.

Mr Manhire also said: “It was reported by at least one of her guests that the leaseholder was seen having sex in the toilets with one of the doormen.”

In the police’s written application to revoke the licence, it was highlighted that the leaseholder said age checks were carried out and there was a denial about the alleged behaviour in the ladies’ toilets.

Andy Coles, the chair of the licensing subcommittee, told Mr Manhire: “You have just outlined a catalogue of breaches over the last couple of years.”

Arguing Mr Kimitri’s case, Mr Campbell said: “This is the first time that this premises or any venue running from that premises has been brought to the attention of the local authority.”

Although he said there were issues with how the club went on to be run, Mr Campbell said: “There was nothing concerning about the individual who took on the lease of Freelove.”

Issues continued even once the designated premises holder had been removed. Mr Campbell said: “There have been issues before where we have changed the locks and she has got in. She broke in.”

He said the leaseholder then used the club for activities that contravened the licence.

Although he argued the licence should not be removed, Mr Campbell was clear that the time of having nightclubs at the venue was over. He said: “Mr Kimitri takes the view that a nightclub is too much trouble than it’s worth.”

He added: “It is never going to be open as a nightclub again.”

Mr Campbell proposed reducing the opening hours specified in the licence so that any business at the venue would have to shut by 12.30am from Thursday to Saturday.

Mr Kimitri said: “I am having plans drawn up to satisfy a business need.”

He added: “It will be a restaurant.”

These conditions were accepted by the licensing subcommittee.

Mr Coles said: “The committee has decided to allow the premises to operate in due course, subject to mandatory conditions.”