Setting for a new tenant at Sheffield venue

The South Sea, on Spooner Road, had a permit allowing children to enter the venue and hosted music events open to teenagers.

But, following a council meeting prompted by a review, several conditions have been added to the premises licence - including a restriction on under 18s being in the venue at any time.

David Hancock, who had run the pub since 2011, said the decision to close in June was not linked to the hearing.

“Because the venue was closing, it was proposed that it was better to amend the licence while we were there.”

David said he left the South Sea as he felt the venue was ‘not welcome in Broomhill’.

“I’ve started a new job. I’ve got my life back so I’m relieved just to get rid of it, even though it was a lovely little cultural hub for Sheffield.

“It seemed like Broomhill was not the right place for a music venue. It never felt like we were accepted.”

David said, as far as he was aware, a new tenant had not yet been secured. “It’s going to take a lot of work to make it compete as a normal pub in Broomhill. I’m thinking somebody might rent it out for a restaurant or something other than a live music venue.”

David said he thought the South Sea’s closure was a ‘shame’ following the loss of other Sheffield music venues.

“The Grapes, the Kasbah, the Boardwalk and Delaneys have gone. Where does the local talent learn its craft and develop in the city? We’re running out of small independent venues.”

The council’s licensing sub-committee ordered that all staff should undertake Sheffield Safeguarding Children’s Board training, and said a member of SSCB-trained staff should be on the premises at all times. Regular refresher training must be undertaken at least every six months, a single ‘refusals log’ must be kept and a ‘challenge 25’ scheme operated.

A report said the board, which requested the review, had been involved with the venue since 2013 after a 14-year-old boy was taken to hospital after attending a party at the venue. The children’s board was concerned about ‘a lack of management control’.

Planning permission to knock down the pub and build apartments in its place was approved in 2014.