An axe-throwing and rage room venue’s bid to serve alcohol has been approved despite concerns from the police.
Customers visiting Rage It Out in Consett will be able to drink at the Queen Street venue before and after sessions, after Durham County Council approved a licence application.
No alcohol will be permitted in the axe-throwing or rage room activity areas.
Visitors to Rage It Out can use crobars, sledgehammers, and baseball bats inside the rage room to smash different objects.
But bosses faced opposition from Durham Police, which warned that customers drinking alcohol before or after sessions could lead to “reckless or unsafe behaviour”.
Sergeant Caroline Dickenson said: “Alcohol consumption, even at moderate levels, reduces inhibition, impairs judgment, slows reaction time, and increases impulsivity.
“When combined with a weapon-based activity and a structured aggressive activity, there is the potential for the likelihood of reckless or unsafe behaviour, escalation of disputes between participants, misuse of equipment and the potential of disorder within or outside the premises.”
The force added that allowing visitors to consume alcohol while handling bladed weapons creates a “foreseeable risk of reckless or unsafe throws”.
Yet the council’s licensing committee was told that several safety measures had been introduced following conversations with the police ahead of the hearing.
Scott Wilson, speaking on behalf of Rage It Out, said: “We have been open for a month and not had any issues. Weapons are behind locked doors that only the staff have access to.
“The applicant complied with safety requests, including fitting locks, at significant expense, demonstrating the responsible and cooperative approach.”
Durham Police also objected to the sale of alcohol following axe-throwing or rage room activities, but Mr Wilson said it is “no different from customers leaving the premises and drinking elsewhere”.
As part of its licence, staff must ensure all weapons are securely stored away before and after sessions. Alcohol must only be served in the bar and reception area, and intoxicated customers are not allowed into the venue.
Mr Wilson added: “This is not an uncontrolled or disorderly environment. It is a supervised, rule-based venue with staff oversight, separation of areas, controlled access to equipment and a revised alcohol policy that prohibits drinking during participation.”
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
