A bar with a restaurant-style drinks licence has been operating as a grassroots music venue under the radar for seven years, councillors were told.
The discrepancy came to light during a routine inspection earlier this year, prompting the owner to apply to Brighton and Hove City Council to regularise the position.
The Pipeline, at 6 Little East Street, Brighton, was meant to be a food-led venue, according to council and police licensing officers, but has instead become a magnet for aspiring musicians.
After a licensing inspection in February, the owner Thomas Evrenos submitted an application to vary the venue’s licence conditions.
The application went before councillors today (Tuesday 9 July) when a licensing panel heard objections from Sussex Police and the council who said that they had found several breaches of the venue’s licence conditions.
The three panel members – Labour councillors John Hewitt, David McGregor and Alison Thomson – also heard from Mr Evrenos, 63.
They were told that officers went to the venue on Friday 16 February but found no signs informing customers that they would be refused service if they were intoxicated, using drugs, under-age or disorderly.
The licence required full main courses to be available until 11pm from Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
It also required light snacks and sandwiches to be offered until the Sunday to Thursday midnight closing time – and 2am at weekends. But officers were told that food was available only until 9.30pm.
The licence also required customers to be served by waiting staff but there was no table service and the premises licence to be on display but it wasn’t.
Sussex Police licensing officer Claire Abdelkader said that there had been an increasing number of incidents in the East Street area at weekends although none appeared to be linked to the Pipeline.
She recommended keeping two security staff on the doors if the venue continued to stay open late without food or music on offer.
The force had said that it one member of security staff would be acceptable if the venue stopped serving at 11pm.
The police did not object to the upstairs stage becoming a permanent fixture so that the Pipeline could continue to operate as a grassroots music venue.
Ms Abdelkader said: “The application does have the potential risk to undermine the prevention of crime and disorder, public nuisance and public safety licensing objectives.
“This is a unique situation in that the premises has been operating as a live music venue for a number of years under the radar with minimal police interaction or intervention.”
The force’s main concern was the prospect of people drinking for two hours after music ended at weekends and for an hour on other nights.
In formal papers, Sussex Police asked the panel to set a condition that the sale of drinks stop at 11pm on Sundays to Thursdays and at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Councillor Thomson said: “I’m slightly confused. How come Thomas (Mr Evrenos) been operating with impunity for seven years and nobody has noticed?
“This has all gone under the radar. Is that normal? I just don’t understand how. I find it peculiar none of this has come to light before.”
Ms Abdelkader said that the police licensing team was small and tended to respond to complaints or intelligence.
Mr Evrenos said that he wanted to keep the venue open with drink available until midnight from Sunday to Thursday and until 1am at weekends.
He told the panel that he had worked in banking for 20 years before opening the Pipeline, in London, as a retirement project in 2009.
In 2016, he moved to Brighton and took over the Little East Street venue, formerly the Northern Lights, which had a more troubled licensing history.
He said: “Pipeline is not about vertical drinking. It’s about musicians meeting and having a good time and playing their instruments.
“We don’t do dancing. We don’t do DJs. We do alternative music and DIY music. We are one of the few places in Brighton that provides young newly starting musicians with a place to play their instruments.”
Councillor McGregor said that the panel’s concern was about trust because so many serious yet basic licensing requirements were ignored. Mr Evrenos said that all of the paperwork was in order.
The panel retired to make their decision which should be made public within five working days.
So I think they have proven themselves capable of running an establishment well.
In what sense? By not being caught? That’s not great logic, sir. Several breaches of their license isn’t good, but, there is an argument there to just get the venue up to the required standard and all’s well.
Well nobody has inspected nor complained, and I guess the police have never had to visit.
Quite honestly I find some of the licencing points a little silly. Reminding people that if they were intoxicated, using drugs, under-age or disorderly they were not welcome. Pointless ! (unless you make signs that is)
That’s fair, Chris. It should be fairly applied to every establishment though, that’s reasonable, right?
This is a much valued and loved venue. Thomas is a great guy and does a huge service to musicians and fans alike.
I have attended many gigs at this venue. I certainly don’t associate it as one where drugs are obviously used by the punters. It’s not a venue where people completely slaughtered are seen.
It’s run by very polite, welcoming staff. It’s a friendly place where you can relax and enjoy yourself. I’ve never seen any trouble here. What more could you ask for from a venue in the City centre???
The Pipeline is the only reason I visit Brighton. Shut it down and you’ll soon notice that there are more folks like me.
So yet again the wonderful Police who fail to control stabbings violence and drugs hit an easy target that actually is one of the safest friendliest bars I have ever been into, which is probably why it went under the radar. The alternative scene is the most inclusive of all scenes but I feel the police won’t be happy till everything’s a coffee shop or closed as its too complicated to target the real issues driving violence in Brighton. It seems that there is a war against anyone that wants to enjoy grass roots music or a life that doesn’t suit the new Puritans who have an agenda to make Brighton safe for the property developers.
Went there for the first time 2 weeks ago. Great people serving and a eclectic friendly crowd. Places like this should be protected.
Absolutely amazing venue where you’ll always be treated well, served great food and drink, and never seems to attract the kind of people that tend to start trouble. More venues like this should open, and Pipeline should be supported as a vital part of the neighbourhood.
Awesome venue ! Brighton lis lucky to have it!
The Pipeline is an absolute staple on the Brighton DIY scene. I have been regularly attending this venue for some time now, and can honestly say I have never witnessed any trouble. Super friendly bar staff. Super friendly door staff. And a great, friendly community has been built as a result. I feel nothing but safe at The Pipeline. This venue should be protected.
So if he has not had any issues over the past 7 years, they should crack on and approve it.
Maybe they should get rid off the off-licences on north street if they want less antisocial behaviour
A great venue, never been any trouble when I’ve been there, well run and a diverse, cheery friendly clientele. As others have said, the sort of place that should be encouraged in a city centre.
I’m 58 years old and plenty of others of my age also regularly attend events there, so this is a venue that has a broad appeal to people of all ages.
That it hasn’t been the site of any anti-social incidences in 7 years is a testament to how well it is run. Its a vibrant venue, full of music lovers and gig goers who don’t want to cause trouble, they just want a good night and some decent sounds. I often go there.
It might not adhere to the letter of the licence but it serves no purpose to punish a valuable, exciting, trouble-free venue that provides experience in performance, for young talented musicians honing their craft.
I wish the council would focus on those organisations that cause problems rather than this great Little. Venue that does wonders for musicians is a friendly and harmless place. There’s bigger things to worry about and get angry about.
Got to agree with the other comments. This place is such a great small venue and pub. You never get problems with drunks fighting, etc which, as has been said above, is exactly the reason it has gone under the radar for so long. It’s a safe place for people to meet and enjoy live music.
I hope they’ll be allowed to continue doing what they’re doing with a few easily met requirements.
The Pipeline is one of the few grassroots venues supporting DIY live music left in the country, they have proved they can operate without issue by the nature of running ‘under the radar’ for so long. It is a friendly venue focused on music, not drinking. They need to be supported to continue if there’s any hope of Brighton retaining it’s DIY music scene.
Keep up with the times for godsakes, this has not been on the radar because it is a very special venue it brings people together and all the staff are very friendly also the doormen are like family to loads of the clientele, I have drinker in many establishments and I can tell you the pipeline is the greatest venue for miles around, under the radar for 7years because their has not been any reason to look into this quality venue, let’s hope the board looks into this with their eyes wide open and see that Brighton needs the pipeline 😢
The Pipeline is a fantastic venue with a real heart for aspiring musicians and a peaceful and community orientated oasis. Supporting the venue to be even better would make sense and the lack of any trouble linked to the venue in such a long a time speaks for itself.
Great little venue, never seen any trouble & the security they have are lovely. Brighton should be supporting venues like this one.
Excellent, well run, community venue that never has any problems. Long live the Pipeline!
Having been involved with live music for 10 years, finding the right venue with the right management and staff is paramount, so when I moved to Brighton 3 years ago, The Pipeline was an obvious choice. I’d been to Thomas’s previous venue in London and I loved how it was ran.
It’s nearly 3 years now since I put on my first show at The Pipeline, and it’s something I do on a regular basis because for the type of show I put on there, it’s the perfect venue – it’s a grass roots venue championing new and young talent with a DIY ethos as well as having more established bands playing.
Thomas has backed me all the way, the staff are brilliant, the security guys are fantastic and the bands and clientele come from all walks of life, the place is a melting pot and there’s never any trouble. It’s also a great place to chat to people you’ve never met, we’re all there for the music.
If this place closed it would seriously undermine grassroots music in Brighton, yes there are plenty of other venues but to me, The Pipeline is unique, it’s also nowhere near residential buildings so any complaints there may have been would be at a minimum.
So I urge the council to grant a new licence so we can all continue doing what we love.
The Pipeline is a trouble free zone, I’ve been there many times as a punter, a player and a band manager. In every case it has been a great place for bands of every level to play to an appreciative audience. I’ve never seen a hint of trouble and it holds a unique position in the Brighton music scene. It would be a tragedy to lose it for what amounts to an admin error.
I have spent many nights at the Pipeline, I have never seen any sort of trouble & the Bouncers they have are absolutely lovely. Can we stop attacking small grass root venues & give them some help, rather than constantly attacking them. Brighton needs more places like the Pipeline, so people that live here have somewhere to go at night.
I really like the Pipeline.
I must confess to being confused about the failures, there was clear signage (as usual in Brighton) when I was last there – we had a great meal pre-gig too.
I agree with the street drinking off-license remarks, and happily support correcting the relevant licenses – they’ve proved that they can run a good venue … the council should be supporting and assisting with the hoop jumping.
I’ve been comfortably using drugs at The Pipeline for years with no hassle. It’s a great venue with a relaxed atmosphere.
I’ve played multiple gigs there and it’s by no means a townie place. Never seen trouble, myself. Reading this article really illustrates how out of touch the council is. No negotiation, just “we think you should…” and then enforce an economically untenable solution. The line between state and citizen is widening: expect it to continue now the dark lord’s lego man is in power.
This is an amazing venue and bar, well ran, very safe. This is an important space for a big community
One of Brighton’s most important venues, with a dedicated, kind and eclectic community behind it. While I can understand the concerns that some of these licensing failures may raise, it also highlights the difficulties many establishments face navigating the beaurocratic labyrinth of running a business of any kind- Especially a grassroots one, which we need far more of. I hope the council can help support these guys rather than see it as opportunity to shut them down or impose unsustainable operating costs.
How funny
I completely appreciate that the stipulations have not been maintained, and something should be done to recognise that, as if everyone did that it would be a nightmare. So could a fine be issued instead. This venue is clearly loved in it format it’s working in and is adding to the music scene. Please don’t make it impossible to function for the sake of paperwork. Especially not enforcing 2 security. I opted for one security guard at the weekends for 6 months and it it was a HUGE cost that nearly tipped my business. Security can be great, but it’s a HUGE cost. And TWO!? I would say, issue a fine to acknowledge the breech, and move forward on a way to support what it has become.
I play here at least twice a year and I’ve never heard as much as a raised voice outside after gigs, this pub is one of the rare melting pots of Brighton where everyone is there for the music and to have a good time. They have a very no nonsense attitude to anti social behaviour and due to that fact it is non existent at this venue. Leave our venues alone and deal with the anti social, unsafe main streets of Brighton and leave decent business owners alone. This is our little bit of venue, you can’t have any
I wonder whether Labour’s Tom Gray has been involved in any way?
I’ve been to many gigs and been fortunate enough to play here too, it’s a great venue!
I’ve never once seen any trouble and tbh I’ve never seen anyone get completely smashed here either, it’s not that kind of venue! I was very surprised to see this story.
Is this the once beautiful building occupied by the amazing restaurant The Strand?