Plan to bring back Stalybridge bar under new name refused

A plan to reopen a closed nightclub in Stalybridge under a new name has been rejected by the council.

Back to the 80s was shut down following an incident in which a customer suffered a serious injury.

Tameside council revoked the bar’s alcohol licence last year after a customer fell through a gap in the staircase in June 2024.

She was left with a severe head injury. Rowan Kitchingman’s request to reopen the Market Street premises – as the Corner Club – has now been refused.

His premises licence application requested permission to sell alcohol between 11am and 2.30am from Tuesday to Sunday and until 2am for the rest of the week. 

A meeting of the licensing panel was called on August 5 to review the application.

Mr Kitchingman told the panel he wanted to reopen the bar as a live music venue for older customers. He said he has experience running pubs, most recently Chapel House in Dukinfield.

Greater Manchester Police; public health; and the council’s licensing authority had concerns that Mr Kitchingman had a close association with previous owner Ian Whittaker.

“Everything that has been done is in the past and nothing to do with me,” Mr Kitchingman told the meeting in the Tameside One building. “I was approached by Ian Whittaker’s brother Paul to ask if I wanted to take over the bar. 

“It is a favour to Paul Whittaker, who is a friend of mine. I didn’t think it would be this complicated

“I will do my best to improve on the past. My plan is basically to change the clientele.

“People who come out to watch live music, they are just out for a drink. They don’t go to the toilet every five minutes. The younger generation don’t like this music and will stay away.”

He said he wasn’t running the business yet., but said a deal had been struck with building owner Ian Whittaker to buy the business when the building had been renovated and he had obtained a new licence. 

Cllr Christine Beardmore; GMP’s PC Craig Foley Greater; and regulatory compliance officer Nicola Healey said they believed the previous owner was still heavily involved in management. 

Asked how he would manage safety; crime prevention; and security of the venue, Mr Kitchingman said it would be down to the door staff. His application was criticised as ‘vague’.

PC Foley said: “I feel it’s the same premises with a different name up there. I don’t believe you can run a late night premises as a favour.”

After considering the evidence the licensing panel, chaired by Cllr Joyce Bowerman, refused the application for the new alcohol licence.