A Stevenage bar has announced its permanent closure next month, having had its premises licence revoked after concerns were raised over incidents including a stabbing and sex acts caught on camera.

Stevenage Borough Council's Licensing Committee revoked the premises licence of Lounge 72 in Stevenage High Street in January after Hertfordshire police applied for a review following "multiple incidents of violence and disturbance" by customers.

Herts police said they had received more than 50 calls to attend Lounge 72 since the bar opened in summer 2021 - many for incidents of a violent nature.

Reported incidents have included a stabbing, violence, sexual assault, alleged rape, hate crime, indecent assault, possession of an offensive weapon, suspected spikings, theft, criminal damage and assault against an emergency worker.

READ MORE

In October last year, video footage emerged of a Lounge 72 customer performing oral sex on a topless butler in front of other customers at a brunch event in the cocktail bar's garden area.

Lounge 72 appealed the council's decision to revoke its licence, and a hearing is scheduled for October.

A spokesperson for the council said "the premises can still operate until the hearing has been determined, or beyond if the court overturns the council’s decision to revoke", but Lounge 72 has now announced it will permanently close on May 7.

READ MORE

A spokesperson for the bar said: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank every single one of our wonderful customers who have supported us over the last two years. It has been a journey that we will never forget.

"We are a small, independent, family business that started as the country embraced one another once again, at the end of a global pandemic, and we will always cherish the memories that have been made here."

Lounge 72 has previously said public safety is its "number one priority" and that it operates "a zero-tolerance policy on any anti-social behaviour". 

The business said "Lounge 72 is a safe place to visit", with Hertfordshire Counstabulary's concerns relating to "incidents that happened outside Lounge 72, not inside".