A Bournemouth nightclub has applied to extend its weekend opening hours until 5am, prompting several representations from nearby residents and a period of mediation with Dorset Police ahead of a local licensing committee hearing.
Application would extend hours on key weekend nights
The venue, known as Lost and located on Commercial Road, has submitted a licence variation on behalf of VIP Events Ltd that would allow it to remain open until 5am on Fridays, Saturdays and on Sundays immediately preceding a bank holiday Monday. The proposals also include the formal use of the building’s second floor and updates to existing licence conditions.
"Lost, in Commercial Road, Bournemouth, wants to stay open until 5am on Fridays, Saturdays, and on Sundays immediately preceding a bank holiday Monday."
The current licence carries a condition requiring a risk assessment to determine the number of door supervisors. Under the proposed variation this would be changed to a requirement for a written assessment that takes account of the day, time and type of event. Another proposed change is for a minimum of two door supervisors from 10pm, although this would apply only on the nights listed above and would include a stipulation that those supervisors use body cameras.
Local reaction and police mediation
Seven formal representations were made concerning the application. Six of those were objections citing worries about potential public nuisance and disturbance; one representation offered support. Dorset Police’s Licensing Team engaged with the applicant and reached agreement on a number of proposed measures intended to mitigate harms, including a glassware policy and a commitment to review the venue’s dispersal policy where necessary.
- Proposed new closing time: 5am on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays before bank holidays
- New written risk assessment for door supervision based on event characteristics
- Minimum of two door supervisors from 10pm on the specified nights, with body cameras
- Agreed measures with Dorset Police: glassware policy and dispersal policy reviews
| Issue | Current requirement | Proposed change |
|---|---|---|
| Closing time | Standard hours (not extended to 5am) | Until 5am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays before bank holidays |
| Door supervisor assessment | Risk assessment regarding number required | Written assessment based on day, time and type of event |
| Minimum door supervisors | Condition in place (unspecified) | Minimum two from 10pm on specified nights, with body cameras |
The matter is due to be considered by the licensing committee on Tuesday 8 September. Licensing hearings are the formal route for determining whether an application should be approved, refused or granted subject to additional conditions designed to address concerns raised by residents, the police or other stakeholders.
What this means for residents and the town centre
Bournemouth’s town centre has a lively night‑time economy that supports jobs in hospitality and entertainment, but it also sits amid residential streets where late‑night activity can affect sleep, safety and quality of life. Extending hours to 5am would align Lost with the later end of the night‑time sector, increasing the potential for noise and dispersal issues in nearby streets — which is at the heart of the objections lodged by neighbours.
The applicant’s willingness to negotiate with Dorset Police — and the agreement to measures such as a glassware policy and a dispersal review — reflects a recognition that additional controls are likely to be required if later hours are to be permitted without undermining the licensing objectives of public safety and prevention of public nuisance.
Local councillors and community groups often watch licensing applications closely because small changes to a single venue’s conditions can have an outsized effect on the character of an area and on policing resources during busy periods. The licensing committee’s decision will be made on the balance of the evidence and representations presented at the hearing.
Anyone with an interest in the application may attend the public hearing at the council’s licensing committee; decisions are published afterwards and set out any conditions attached to approvals.
