CHANGES are being promised at a Weymouth nightclub which was shut down a week before Christmas after police claims of drug dealing.

Actor’s Bar and Club in Maiden Street was served a closure notice by Dorset Council – temporarily revoking its licence.

In a statement issued at the time the police and council allege that the operators of the venue consistently failed to uphold the licensing objectives and that crime was reported to have taken place at the premises, risking the safety of members of the public.

Said the chair of the Licensing Sub-Committee at the time, Cllr Les Fry: "Based on the evidence shown to us today by the police … It was decided that the licence should be suspended with immediate effect while we look fully at all the information and make a decision on the long-term licence.”

That decision on the future of the premises will now be taken at a licensing meeting on January 12th.

The licence holder, Mr Parviz Marseh, has promised new managers, a new security company, closer vetting of customers and the possible use of a drug detection device, if he is allowed to continue trading.

In a statement he says: “I am a reputable business owner, and I am not going to allow any of these types of incidents bring shame on me or my club and good name. I therefore invite the committee to believe me and trust that if the club is allowed to open there will not be any repeat of what happened. I am under no illusion as to what the hurdles will be, but I will implement whatever measures are necessary to prevent drug dealing at the club.”

Mr Parviz Panjalizadeh-Marseh has been the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) at Actor’s since August 2020 and says he has an unblemished history with the club and others in the town dating back to 1996.

Police say they had become concerned over a period of about six months, starting in the summer, by behaviour at the club, or associated with it.

“Dorset Police has received many reports of violence and disorder, both within and immediately outside the premises, at varying times of the evening. Several reports of sexual assault have been reported as being associated to Actor’s and the levels of intoxication leading to welfare concerns have been overwhelmingly more commonplace at Actor’s than at any other premises in the area,” said a police licensing report in December.

It also claims that staff were “identified as being involved in allowing, and in some cases facilitating, known drug dealers to enter the premises” and that one staff member was identified as being directly involved in the distribution of Class A drugs.

In a statement to next week’s hearing Mr Maresh says he was “completely shocked’ to discover the police had applied for a summary review and visited the club when he returned from Iran after a period of isolation.

“I noticed unusual customers which I wasn’t happy with. I spoke with the manager, to say that they were not my usual customers, that I did not like them and that we must get rid of them from the club. Four days later the police applied for a summary review…

“The closing down of the venue by police and council has come as a shock to me and my staff…and I would not knowingly jeopardise my investment for drug dealers who have visited my premises. I also feel responsible for my bar staff who will be out of work if I cannot reopen.”

He says that, if allowed, he will radically change the way the club is run including appointing two new managers and a new security company and is reviewing policies and procedures to see if they can be made more stringent.

Other measures being considered include extra security cameras, additional security staff, a reduction in hours until 4am and a comprehensive training and refresher programme for all staff.

Mr Maresh says he will also vet customers more thoroughly, redecorate inside and out, and consider buying a drug detector device in addition to using undercover staff to detect any problems.