A popular Oxford arts venue has been granted permission by the council to host live music events; despite a University of Oxford College putting forward noise objections.
The nightclub Thirst Bar has had an application for a premises licence at the Jam Factory approved, which will permit the venue to host live gigs and hold film screenings.
The historic Victorian venue, which was once home to Frank Cooper’s Marmalade, was forced to close on September 17, 2022, after the tenants were unable to reach an agreement with Nuffield College following “considerable and prolonged negotiations, calculations and reflection”.
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Despite the city council granting permission this week for live bands to play late into the evening at the site, the original application intended for music to be enjoyed until 1am on Thursday and 2am on Friday and Saturday.
The application was submitted to Oxford City Council’s licensing committee on behalf of Thirst Bar by Spirit Bar Ltd.
Brasenose College strongly objected to these later closing times, and their representative wrote to the council expressing their concern that the live music would disrupt students’ “peaceful place in which to sleep and study”.
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Writing to the licensing authority, the College’s representative said noise from the venue would be “intrusive” and highlighted previous activities at the site had led to students requesting “room swaps”.
Before the licensing meeting on Tuesday, the College’s position was that the application “should be refused entirely” as it lacked details.
However, after the earlier closing time of 12am was agreed, Brasenose College withdrew their objections.
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Licensing committee member and Oxford City Councillor Edward Mundy said Brasenose College’s acceptance of the earlier closing hours was a “key element in it becoming an acceptable application”.
Mr Mundy also highlighted the application had been put together in close cooperation with Thames Valley Police.
In addition to hosting live music, the application outlined plans to show films and put on plays.
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The owners of the Jam Factory, Nuffield College and its agents Savills, have actively been seeking new tenants.
Thirst already runs a cocktail bar and club on Park End Street which hosts DJs and is considered central to Oxford’s clubbing scene.
The Jam Factory’s neighbours expressed concerns that previous anti-social behaviour such as “drunk disorderly behaviour” and “vomit on the pavements” could return if the 2am closing time was not adjusted.
Householders nearby also feared the area would become similar to when the nightclub Plush was nearby, now at Frewin Court, and “drunken revelry” would return.
Despite householders’ fears a live music venue will encourage crime and anti-social behaviour, Mr Mundy told the Oxford Mail the application had gone through a thorough process and received no objections from the police.
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Ed specialises in writing political stories for the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times.
He joined in the team in February 2023, after completing a History undergraduate degree at the University of York and studying for his NCTJ diploma in London.
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