From the Dover Express, 2 April, 2009. Exclusive by Kathy Bailes.

RESIDENTS CALL FOR ACTION OVER CLUB.

Group wants police to step in over antisocial behaviour

DRUNKS urinating in the street, couples copulating outside people's windows and ear-splitting music in the early hours are just some of the complaints Dover residents are making about a nightclub in their road.

Members of the Adrian Street Action Group are pleading for Dover District Council and Kent Police to take action over the level of noise and antisocial behaviour outside of "Club Karma," and return peace to their street.

A spokesman for the group said; "We want a noise Iimiter installed.

Patrol

"We accept there will be antisocial behaviour, but that is a police matter and they should patrol the area more vigorously.

"This has being going on for over a year and at least four different residents have made complaints to the council about the noise and behaviour problems.

"I used a noise meter outside my house one night and it registered 86 decibels. A jet taking off is 100 decibels, so that's an idea of what we have to put up with.

''This is mostly on Fridays and Saturdays until 3am or, when there is a temporary event notice, it can be up until 5am."

The spokesman said the most recent complaint was made this month, adding: ''A sex act had taken place outside one of the flats and people were urinating in the road.

"The police and the council agreed to let this club have a licence so they should make sure there are no problems.

"I agree there should be a nightclub in Dover but it should have to respect the neighbourhood it is in."

Labour ward councillor Jim Hood said residents have been in touch with him and he has taken their concerns to enforcement officers at DDC.

He said: "I have spoken to the noise control officer at DDC and they have visited the site and are monitoring it.

"Residents now need to put in writing their complaints so it can be taken further.

"Once there is a written complaint, the noise control officer can act on it."

A DDC spokesman said: "We are aware of concerns and continue to look into this matter. Residents have the right to call for a review if the licensee is not actively promoting the licensing objectives, (Click here) for more information residents can call the licensing team on 01304 872295.

"If there are concerns about noise and/or anti-social behaviour, residents can call the Out of Hours Noise Team on 01304 821199, or the Community Safety Unit on 01304 612220."

A Kent Police spokesman added: "Licensing officer PC Steve Alexander is aware of a number of local residents who have expressed concern over issues arising from the premises.

"Most of these are noise-related and are being dealt with by environmental health."

When the Dover Express attempted to contact "Club Karma" the listed phone number was dead, Emails were sent but no response had been received at the time of going to press.

From the Dover Express, 10 December, 2009

NIGHTCLUB OPENS

A NEW nightclub is due to open in Dover this weekend. Club Karma is the new name of the venue in Adrian Street.

Details are being discussed by Dover District Council's licensing sub-committee today, Thursday, and the club is expected to open for the first time tomorrow.

VIP tickets have been given away to people who have been following progress on Twitter.

Owner Sonal Gupta bought the building 18 months ago and has been transforming it into what he now says will be “Dover's premier nightspot”.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 8 March, 2012. 65p. Report by Gary Wright

TEN DRUNK

A TEENAGE girl refused entry to a nightclub in Dover on Christmas Eve because she was too drunk and spat in the face of a police officer called to deal with her.

Teenaged girl in dock for spitting assault on police

FINES FOR DRUNKEN NIGHTCLUB INCIDENT

A TEENAGE girl who was refused entry to a nightclub in Dover on Christmas Eve because she was too drunk spat in the face of a police officer called to deal with her.

Kay Kelly, 18, of Parfitt Way, Dover, appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court last Thursday, when she pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty.

Rachael Laughland, prosecuting, told the court police had been called to Club Karma in Adrian Street due to another incident.

She added: “But as they arrived door staff beckoned them over. They were holding a blonde female who was lashing out after being refused entry.

“Officers said it was very clear that she was intoxicated.”

A police officer approached her and initially had intended to deal with Kelly for being drunk and disorderly but when he spoke with her she spat in his face.

Lashing out

Miss Laughland said: “He was joined by another officer and Kelly continued lashing out with her feet and then she spat in the officer's face a second time.”

She was arrested and the court was told that Kelly had previous police reprimands for being drunk and disorderly in October and November 2010, when she was aged 17. The court heard that a fixed penalty issued at the time for £80 still had £70 outstanding and there was a warrant out for Kelly's arrest for the non-payment.

Her solicitor, Max Reeves, told the court that his client was already seeking help with her drinking and had “engaged well” with KCA, the alcohol and drug addiction unit which works with the Probation Service.

Kelly was given a 12-month community order with six months supervision including a six-month alcohol treatment programme.

She was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to the police officer and costs of £85 bringing the total she owes to the court to £295, which she will pay off at a rate of £10 a fortnight from her Jobseeker's Allowance.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 23 August, 2012. 65p.

BOUNCERS FOUND DRUGS ON MAN.

DOVER: Doormen at a nightclub called police when they searched a man trying to get in with a wrap of cocaine.

Ashley Rickman, 26, of Prescott Close, Guston, Dover, appeared before Folkestone magistrates last week, when he admitted possession of a Class A drug on July 7.

Teresa Ruiz, prosecuting, told the court he was caught by door staff just after midnight as he tried to get into "Club Karma" in Adrian Street.

She added: “When he was interviewed by police he said the cocaine had been given to him by a friend at work and he intended to take it to a music festival that weekend. He said he had forgotten he was carrying it."

He was fined £150 with costs totalling £100 and magistrates ordered the cocaine be destroyed.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 13 September, 2012. 65p.

ASSAULT AT CLUB

Police have appealed for witnesses after a man was punched in the face outside "Club Karma" at the weekend.

The 27-year-old man was allegedly attacked between 1,30am and 2am in Adrian Street, and police say a woman aged 20 was also assaulted during the incident, though not seriously injured.

Two men, aged 19 and 27, who were arrested later that night have been released on police bail until October 7 while officers carry out further investigation, including looking at CCTV from the area.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact PC Caroline Cornock at Kent Police on 101.

From the Dover Express, Thursday, 13 December, 2012. 65p.

STREET BRAWL

Reports of a “mass brawl” which spilled out of "Club Karma" into the streets of Dover appeared on Twitter last week.

A police spokesman confirmed officers were called to a report of fight at 3.15am on Saturday, December 8, but no-one was arrested. Reports on Twitter suggested some of the brawlers had struck a fellow scrapper with a snooker ball in a sock.

A user called Thom Cakebread said there was “blood on the floor” in Market Square.

■ Did you see the fight? Call the Express on 01303 850999.

From the Dover Express, 16 April 2015.

GIRLS JUST HAVING FUN: Club Karma Tantalise in July 2010.

Great nights at Karma. CLUB Karma may have closed last year, but the memory of the Adrian Street nightclub lives on in some classic pictures.

Last week we uploaded photos from the Bank Holiday Fancy Dress party in May 2010 and the Tantalise event in July that year.

The galleries have been viewed tens of thousands of times as people have tried to spot their friends in the pictures.

Girls in July 2010.

Fancy dress party in May 2010.

From the Dover Express, Thursday 18 June, 2020. By Katie Boyden.

Plan for 29 new homes on former Club Karma site.

THE old "Club Karma" building in Dover could be demolished and replaced with two blocks of flats.

Applicant Emervest Ltd plans to demolish the building in Adrian Street and replace it with two buildings comprising 29 one-bed, two-bed and three-bedroom flats between them.

They would be built across both the "Club Karma" site and the adjacent former car park.

The two buildings would be five and six stories in height, with a basement level shared office and workspace.

The planning statement explains: "We believe that our proposals for Adrian Street represent a positive contribution to the regeneration strategy being pursued by Dover District Council.

"The visibility of the site, particularly when approached from the east, warrants a high level of design.

"The development would mean the enhancement of an existing brownfield site which provides much-needed housing in the town centre of Dover.

"This would foster population growth and improve the perception of the housing market in Dover, while supporting the forecast economic growth."

"Club Karma" has been closed since it was the target of an arson attack and further vandalism in July 2018.
The building was also struck by a heavy vehicle on the Adrian Street side, meaning it is currently boarded up.

The plans have received a mixed response from the public, with 11 comments in support and seven objections lodged with the district council’s planning department.

Objectors cite the height of the buildings, the inconsistency of their design with the local area, and a lack of parking as their main reasons against the plans.

The development does not include any parking spaces.