Nightclub stopped from serving alcohol

A nightclub in Stalybridge has been barred from serving booze to punters by the council.

Decades Heaven and Hell has been operating on Market Street for years, but now it won’t be able to serve alcohol until it gets new management. 

Owner Ian Whittaker wanted to bring in Natalie Robinson to take charge of the venue, but Greater Manchester Police objected to the change made on October 2, 2025. A licence review hearing was called on November 10 to decide on whether the bar could keep Ms Robinson as designated premises supervisor (DPS), but it was postponed due to a no-show from the owner of Decades. 

Mr Whittaker didn’t turn up to the reconvened meeting on January 21 either, so the liquor licensing panel went ahead without him. 

The meeting at the Tameside One building Ashton was told how, at the eleventh hour, Ms Robinson decided to withdraw herself as the proposed DPS of Decades bar. This came after GMP’s objection to her involvement at the nightclub.

PC Craig Foley told the panel: “On July 24, 2023 a violent assault took place outside of Back to the 80s where a customer was violently assaulted by two members of staff. One member of staff was subsequently sent to prison for the violent assault and the victim sustained serious injuries.

“The DPS in charge of Back to the 80s at this time was Natalie Robinson. Natalie was the person in control of the day to day running of the licensed premises.”

PC Foley added that Ms Robinson was removed as DPS by Ian Whittaker shortly before the panel hearing on September 20, 2023 in relation to the events in July that year. Mr Whittaker is also the owner of Back to the 80’s nightclub, which operates just down the street from Decades.

PC Foley went on to say that there have been issues over the festive period at Decades under Ms Robinson’s stewardship. The GMP licensing officer told the panel ‘three violent assaults’ took place in the run up to New Year’s Eve. 

With Ms Robinson withdrawing herself as DPS and no alternative provided by the absent Mr Whittaker the liquor licensing panel rejected the change of DPS application. The hearing, chaired by Coun Helen Bowden, was also told how the premises cannot sell alcohol until a new DPS is found.