Cleethorpes LGBT+ nightclub shuts after 11pm music ban

A Cleethorpes restaurant and a nightclub, both owned by the same person, appear to have closed.

Silhouette nightclub and Relish restaurant, owned by businessman Sean Desouza, are shut and their social media presence has vanished.

A sign on Relish says: ‘Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will not open today. Sorry for any inconvenience.’

Relish Bar & Kitchen, Alexandra Road, Cleethorpes. | Photo: Google Street View

Silhouette, a popular LGBT+ club, reportedly closed last week.

It comes a month after it was banned from playing music after 11pm due to noise complaints.

The Facebook pages for both Alexandra Road venues are unavailable.

Neighbours of Silhouette said music was turned up to an ‘unbearable’ volume in a recent review of its licence.

They claimed they were unable to hear their TVs over it, and one man resorted to sleeping on his mum’s sofa to get away.

North East Lincolnshire Council was told the noise could go on until 2am and was far above acceptable levels.

It banned Silhouette from playing live or recorded music after 11pm as a result.

The hearing in February was the third time noise complaints at Silhouette had been investigated.

Mr Desouza told councillors at the time that he hadn’t realised the noise was a problem, and the business relied on the music licence.

He claimed that the club was no louder than other venues in the area.

“Whenever I got a letter, I always picked up a phone and spoke to the council,” he told the licensing committee last month.

“No residents have ever spoken to me about it.

“I bought the premises because it had a music licence – if it is changed a couple of years down the line, then I’ve wasted that money.

“No one has touched the volume since the last time that [council officers] came.

“Silhouette isn’t louder than any of the other clubs in the area – we’re just in a different location.”

Music and a PA system were clearly audible on recordings taken from in neighbours’ flats, the meeting was told.

Michael Kheng, representing six residents who lived around the club, said the situation had become intolerable.

“Given the pandemic and refurbishments, this club has effectively only operated for 12 months over the last three years, and has had noise machines fitted in surrounding homes by the council three times. This is clearly very excessive,” he told the licensing committee.

“People are at their wits’ end, having to go to their friends and family at the weekend. They can’t sit at home and watch TV. It’s become unbearable.”

Mr Desouza indicated at the time that he would be appealing the ruling.

No noise problems have been reported in connection with Relish.