Capture Cardiff: Saving The Globe Could Cost the Earth

Last Wednesday night at Cardiff’s The Globe nightclub, South Wales heavy-funk band, Monkjack, were on fire.

This may sound like hyperbole, but the ensemble were so in tune with each other — focused on the groove, yet lost somewhere in a mystical land of rhythm — that I wouldn’t have been surprised if their incendiary sound actually had set the stage alight.

Monkjack performing at the Globe

Echoing the standard of performance, the venue itself was a beautiful relic; a refurbished modernisation of the old Globe Theatre. The club’s owner, Alan Jones, decided to keep the old venue’s moniker and has also remained faithful to the original décor.

This, along with a desire to promote good music rather than an excuse to get blind-drunk, sets the Globe apart from other, similar venues in Cardiff. It is the reason why acts like Monkjack, who were playing at the 5th birthday celebrations of Wales’s premier mastering company, Hafod Mastering, are attracted to play there.

However, despite these good intentions, live music at the Globe could be dead by February next year.

A torrid year

The venue opened in November 2008 and, while most adjacent residents were glad to see a positive, cultural influence in the area, complaints from just two neighbours are proving detrimental.

Acting on these complaints, the council’s pollution control department served an abetment notice asking noise levels to be reduced. This was one month after the club opened, on December 11, 2008.

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After further complaints, reporting that noise had not in fact been curtailed, a review of the Globe’s premises licence by the licensing committee advised a halt to live music at the venue. The club have until the appeal — currently being rescheduled for later in February — to solve the problem.

In her report to the licensing sub-committee, Chief Strategic Planning and Environment Officer, Claire Hartrey said: “I would recommend that the premises does not continue to be used as a live music venue until sound proofing works are completed, in order to ensure that local residents do not continue to be disturbed.”

However, speaking to Ms Hartrey, she predicted the venue would not be able to raise the funds needed to provide the necessary soundproofing.

The Globe's impressive 6 kilowatt sound-system

Complaints

Gerald Lovitt talks about living across the road from the Globe

The complaints have come almost exclusively from two houses. Retired Reverend Gerald Lovitt lives across Albany Road and, although he was sympathetic to the efforts being made by the venue, he admitted, if noise levels were not reduced, the music would have to stop.

The Globe from Mr Lovitt's window

The Globe’s biggest adversary, however, lies behind it on Wellfield Place. Dean Greenway has been by far the most vocal complainant, issuing constant protests both to the club and to pollution control.

The Globe's manager, Alan Jones

Relations between him and the Globe have frayed dramatically. Mr Greenway has rejected offers by the owner to triple glaze his house and to take his family out for the evening on particularly noisy nights.

Mr Greenway said: “It’s unreasonable having a venue in such a residential area. The music goes on till midnight sometimes and when you’ve got kids that’s just unacceptable.”

The Globe have said they understand Mr Greenway’s perspective — evidenced by their commitment to providing a solution to the problem.

Solutions

The assistant manager of the Globe, Andrew Kitchen, predicted works to prevent any complaints from happening could cost between £30,000 and £40,000 — a steep sum in any period, let alone recession.

Manager Josh Davies talks about the proposed sound proofing work.

Nevertheless, Mr Jones is confident the club will be able to make the requisite changes, despite the economic shortfall.

“It’s just sad really because, in our first year of trading, all this money that’s being pumped into soundproofing could have been used for promotion. It’s set us back quite a bit,” he said.

While the drinks were flowing and the revelers hobnobbed the night away at the anniversary party, Mr Jones was out the back of the venue taking decibel readings. A cherry-picker was used to get onto the roof so that he could assess exactly what needs to be done.

Satisfying the pollution control department is essential and the club have until the hearing to resolve the issue.

The club also realise Mr Greenway must be Sympathised with. He has lived on Wellfield Road for far longer than the club has been open. However, the Globe’s mission statement is to provide a venue which is not centered around drinking, but around providing the best music in a unique setting.

Blanche Rowen, who organized Hafod Mastering’s 5th anniversary celebrations, said: “We looked at a few other venues in Cardiff, namely Clwb Ifor Bach. But the beauty and class of the Globe meant it was our first choice.”

The Globe isn't your average venue

The future

The fact is: unless a compromise is reached the Globe will close. This fate also befell ex-Cardiff Bay club The Point, which shut its doors on 27th January because of debt accrued from having to install sound insulation.

Clwb Ifor Bach, on Cardiff’s Womanby Street, is also facing similar fears after plans to build a youth hostel next door were confirmed earlier this year. If this trend continues, Cardiff could well end up with a dearth of the live music culture which has typified its past.