A central Dunedin bar's licence, suspended after the Fire Service found it dangerously overcrowded following a fire alarm, has been reinstated.
Issued yesterday, Suburbia's licence reinstatement took effect immediately.
However, the Dunedin District Licensing Committee in its decision reminded bar staff and owner Ian Lindsay of several issues raised during last week's hearings and of their responsibilities.
Suburbia's licence was suspended after it was found by firefighters to be severely overcrowded on May 22 after a fire alarm was activated.
Station Officer Anthony O'Neill estimated 300 people were still in the bar up to four minutes after the alarm activated on the night in question, despite the bar being licensed to hold only 160.
During the hearing last Thursday, the committee questioned bar staff and Mr Lindsay.
The bar's duty manager on May 22, Dana Smith, was reduced to tears during questioning by commissioner Wayne Idour.
Mr Idour constantly reminded Miss Smith she was under oath after she answered his questions and told her he was "not impressed with your evidence here today''.
Staff conceded the bar was probably over its limit at the time of the alarm, but disputed the level of overcrowding.
East Otago fire risk management officer Mike Harrison said he reviewed the changes made at the bar and was comfortable with the results. The Fire Service supported reinstating the bar's licence.
In its decision, the committee noted the "dispute'' over the number of people in the bar at the time of the activation.
"We are inclined to favour the view of the Fire Service attending station officer,'' the decision said.
"The people who spoke for the licensee were not convincing.''
During the hearing, it emerged CCTV footage of the night in question could have been used to clarify the issue of overcrowding.
However, neither the owner nor his staff produced it as evidence. Mr Lindsay said it was "not the best quality'' and had "probably been recorded over''.
In its decision, the committee said it was "encouraged'' by the training completed by staff since the incident and said active monitoring would take place in coming months to "ensure standards are maintained''.
