The owner of a Thornton Heath nightclub has lost his appeal against a decision to reduce its opening hours.

Police said 791 Club, in London Road, was associated with serious crime and disorder and asked Croydon Council to impose a suspension of its licence.

Its licence was reviewed after incidents in January and February last year, when a group of men forced entry to the club after on an earlier occasion assaulting a staff member.

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The Met had previously applied for a review of the club’s licence after a customer was stabbed in the neck on site in October 2015.

The Thornton Heath club clung onto its licence following the near-fatal stabbing, but was shut by cops just three months later over fears of "serious violent crime".

While investigating the attack, police said the venue's lax security had "seriously hindered" their probe.

But it was ruled by the licencing sub-committee that the nightclub’s licence would be modified rather than revoked, following a full review hearing on March 10, 2016.

Owner Kibuuka Fred Kyeyune, then lodged the appeal against the sub-committee’s decision later that month.

The appeal was heard at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 22.

Kyeyune argued that there had been no serious crime or disorder between the incident in February 2016, but the court dismissed the appeal, finding that the incidents on these dates were a result of continued failing by the licence holder to put proper procedures in place.

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Councillor Hamida Ali, cabinet member for communities, safety and justice said: “On 10 March 2016, the council’s licensing sub-committee thought long and hard about what measures would be appropriate to reduce the risk of serious incidents happening at these premises.

“They took the decision to reduce the opening hours and the hours for licensable activities at weekends and it’s reassuring that, after listening to nearly two and a half days of evidence and legal argument, the district judge has come to the same conclusion in upholding the decision of the sub-committee and dismissing this appeal.”

Costs were awarded in the council’s favour.