Tameside council has refused a plan to reopen a closed nightclub in Stalybridge under a new name. The licence application for the Corner Club at the former Back to the 80s premises on Market Street was rejected by the licensing panel.
Incident led to closure
Back to the 80s had its alcohol licence revoked last year after a customer fell through a gap in the staircase in June 2024, suffering a severe head injury.
Rowan Kitchingman's application sought permission to sell alcohol between 11am and 2.30am from Tuesday to Sunday and until 2am on other days. He told the panel he planned to run the bar as a live music venue for an older clientele, citing his experience managing pubs, most recently Chapel House in Dukinfield.
Concerns over association
Greater Manchester Police, public health, and the council's licensing authority raised concerns that Mr Kitchingman had a close association with previous owner Ian Whittaker. Mr Kitchingman said he was approached by Ian Whittaker's brother Paul to take over the bar, calling it "a favour to Paul Whittaker, who is a friend of mine."
He added: "Everything that has been done is in the past and nothing to do with me. 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."
He said he had not yet started running the business but had a deal with building owner Ian Whittaker to buy it after renovation and licence approval.
Application refused
Coun Christine Beardmore, GMP's PC Craig Foley, and regulatory compliance officer Nicola Healey said they believed the previous owner was still heavily involved in management. 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."
The licensing panel, chaired by Coun Joyce Bowerman, refused the application after considering the evidence.
