Notts bars asked to adopt smart dress code

Nottingham licensees have given tentative support to police calls for clubs to adopt smart dress codes to curb violence.

Paul Inman, police licensing officer for Newark and Sherwood, has been asking licensees to implement dress codes, believing that people would be less likely to fight if they were dressed smartly.

It follows a "significant increase" in incidents at the Corn Exchange nightclub on Castlegate, Newark.

"It is my opinion, but if somebody goes out in an old jumper and £4 jeans from Tesco, they are not going to be bothered about rolling around on the ground at the end of the night," Inman told the Newark Advertiser​.

"If they are wearing decent shoes, smart trousers or even decent jeans, they will be that bit more reluctant.

"I have explained the value of this to the licensees but it will be their decision."

Tantra club on Victoria Street operates a strict smart dress policy seven nights a week. Manager Mike Dawson said: "I suppose it might help a little bit.

"Some nightclubs run student nights and they let people in wearing all sorts. If you're wearing sports gear you need to go to the gym. But I would expect people to dress casually to go to the pub on Sundays, for example."

Gatecrasher on Queen Street also enforces a strict dress policy including no trainers, hoodies or baseball caps. Manager Louise Sharp said the scheme might be worth pursuing in troublesome venues, but it wouldn't affect Gatecrasher.

Another club manager, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I don't think it would make a difference. The only thing is it would be helpful to exclude a certain type of person. I would get involved, but I think they can come up with something better than that."

The Corn Exchange was unavailable for comment.