Police try to revoke Syndicate's licence

Police are bidding to close down one of the UK's biggest nightclubs, the Syndicate at Blackpool, claiming the venue is responsible for 40% of incidents at licensed premises in the town.

An application to revoke the liquor licence and special hours certificate of the 4,700-capacity club has been made to the town's licensing justices.

Police bosses have revealed it costs them £500,000 a year to police the town-centre venue, which was converted from a disused cinema at a cost of £4m three years ago.

The revocation move follows the Syndicate's refusal of police requests to reduce capacity at the club to 2,000.

Syndicate owner Mike Nordwind said police had mounted a vendetta against him and claimed he had never been cautioned once about the way the club had been operated.

The hearing is due to take place before magistrates on 3 October, but meanwhile the Syndicate has applied for a variation under the new Licensing Act to extend its bar opening until 4am, with a 5am closure of the premises.

Police solicitor Anthony Horne said: 'The Syndicate is involved with 40% of all incidents involving clubs and licensed premises in Blackpool town centre.

'Officers are making this application in an effort to cut crime and disorder.

Syndicate owners Mike and Sandra Nordwind are well-known nightclub entrepreneurs in the Blackpool area.

Celebrity club owner Peter Stringfellow is a close family friend and attended the opening of the Syndicate in 2002.