Missoula was a nightclub in Unit 7[1] of the Walkergate retail complex in Durham, England[2] that opened on October 1, 2016.[3][2] The venue was used as a Slug and Lettuce branded pub until August 2016.[3][2] Owners Stonegate Pub Company spent £385,000 to renovate the nightclub before its opening.[2] Steve Rucastle was the general manager in 2016.[3]
  Missoula Location within Durham, England | |
| Former names | Slug and Lettuce |
|---|---|
| Address | Unit 7 Walkergate Durham England |
| Coordinates | 54°46′44″N 1°34′31″W / 54.778843°N 1.575380°W |
| Owner | Stonegate Pub Company |
| Current use | Public house |
| Years active | 2016-2018 |
On October 11, 2017, the club launched a new Wednesday night event called "Game Over".[4] On Wednesday February 14, 2018 a crowd control barrier outside the nightclub fell and fatally struck queuing customer, local student, Olivia Burt (aged 20), who was queuing to enter.[2] Durham Member of Parliament Roberta Blackman-Woods[5] said that she has raised safety concerns about the nightclub and had received complaints about the safety of the crowd-control barriers from local taxi drivers.[2] Blackman-Woods stated that taxi drivers had reported seeing the crowd-control barriers fall on the nightclub's customers.[2]
At a May 2018 municipal alcohol licensing review,[5] nightclub owners Stonegate were permitted to retain their license to sell alcohol at the venue, but obliged to submit a revised operational plan.[6] In 2019, the nightclub's owners applied to revert the venue's name back to The Slug and Lettuce.[6] By 2023, the venue was back operating under the Slug and Lettuce brand.[7]
On July 7, 2023, the Stonegate Pub Company was found guilty of breaking safety legislation in 2018,[8] and fined £1.56 million.[9]
References edit
- ^ "Slug and Lettuce Durham". Slug and Lettuce. Archived from the original on 2022-05-22. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g Perraudin, Frances (2018-02-11). "MP says warnings over Durham nightclub venue were dismissed". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ a b c "Sneak peek inside new flagship Durham City pub". Sunderland Echo. 30 Sep 2016. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ Goodall, Ashleigh (2017-10-04). "What's on? A student's guide to Durham club nights". Palatinate. Archived from the original on 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ a b Goldswain, Hannah (2018-04-04). "Durham nightclub Missoula could be stripped of its licence". Durham University. Archived from the original on 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ a b Harrison, James (2019-07-31). "Missoula, Durham, applies to change its name". The Northern Echo. Archived from the original on 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ "Olivia Burt: Durham University student's death outside club 'senseless and avoidable', court told". ITV News. 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Olivia Burt death: Durham club owners broke the law, jury finds". BBC News. 2023-07-06. Archived from the original on 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ "Olivia Burt: Pub chain fined £1.56m over Durham student's queue death". BBC News. 2023-07-07. Archived from the original on 2023-07-08. Retrieved 2023-07-08.