‘Business as usual’ after mix-up leads to club’s weekend closure

An “administrative error” over licences forced Spalding’s Loaded nightclub and Bounce Bar to remain closed over the weekend as they were unable to serve alcohol.

The venues, as well as others in the Activ Group stable, including The Assembly Rooms in Boston, stayed shut from last Thursday after it was discovered that a company restructuring earlier in the year had led to an issue with their licences and the deadline to change them had expired.

Alleycatz, Spalding’s ten-pin bowling alley was able to remain open.

Activ Group’s Matt Clark said it had “not been a great weekend” and that last week had been a stressful one as urgent action was taken to try to rectify the problem.

But despite the support of the licensing authorities – South Holland District Council and Boston Borough Council – the licence could not be granted in time to open on Thursday night.

As a result it was deemed pointless to open Loaded and Bounce, whereas it was thought it was worth opening Alleycatz even though alcohol could not be sold.

Party-goers who had pre-booked tickets for Loaded’s Independence weekend events have been refunded and offered additional compensation.

And Mr Clark assured everyone that it would be “business as usual” this weekend, as the licence issue was expected to be resolved mid-week, in time for the venues to open today.

Mr Clark’s assurances follow rampant rumour and conjecture on social media over the weekend that the company had gone out of business and the venues closed permanently.

These were further fuelled by the posting of a notice from The London Gazette which showed Activ Leisure in liquidation.

But a statement issued on behalf of Activ Group said: “Activ Leisure, a former management company, having no freehold interest, nor employed staff, ceased trading some time ago.

“More recently a decision was taken by the directors to formally close.”

As a result the company was placed in voluntary liquidation.

Statement from Activ Group

Activ Group issued the following statement: “The situation of some of the company venues being closed this weekend is down to an error of a professional, who was instructed to represent the company during a corporate restructuring process earlier in the year.
“Recently, when officers of the company became aware of a failure to complete application, within a stipulated time permitted, steps were taken to regularise the position with the local authority. On receiving the applications, the local authority research confirmed that the deadline to make said application had expired, and thus they could not complete.
“The local authority’s officers have been extremely supportive in facilitating the reopening of the venues as soon as possible, and whilst regrettably that it couldn’t be achieved this for the weekend past, all venues have reopened this week.
“Whilst a testing time for those businesses in the portfolio affected, everyone is working very hard to return things to normal. Those business that had no option to close used the opportunity to carry out works to improve the facilities.
“All events publicised are still going ahead, including celebrity appearances.
“It has been most warming to see the huge amount of support shown by customers during this and for that we give our sincere thanks.”