[UPDATED] Shebeen Not Closed For Noise Complaints

Following reports today that popular Melbourne music venue Shebeen Bandroom was shut down due to noise complaints, a report has been sent to the The Music that states that the closure appears to be "a business decision". 

A statement from Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) reads, "The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) has not received any noise complaints relating to this venue in the last two years.

A spokesperson explained, "The premises associated with this licence has held a restaurant and cafe licence since 2010 and was transferred to the current licensee in 2013."

The VCGLR also states that an infringement notice was recently issued to Shebeen, but was not related to noise complaints, but instead "in relation to the venue supplying liquor in a way not permitted by its licence" — that is, with a restaurant and cafe license rather than a liquor and music license. 

The VCGLR's report is at odds with venue co-founder Simon Griffiths' earlier statement today, where he said the decision to close was due to "significant pressure from the police and the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR)… we received an infringement notice from the VCGLR which we have unsuccessfully appealed". 

update:

Shebeen Bandroom co-founder Simon Griffiths has responded to the statement released by the VCGLR today.

"We weren’t shut down due to noise complaints," Griffiths told theMusic.

"The part of the operation that the VCGLR took issue with was different to the noise issue which was the primary issue for the police. It’s not that there’s conflicting reports or misinformation, but more around where VCGLR chose to take issue from a non-compliance perspective."

Griffiths said the decision to close the Shebeen is much more complex than just about noise complaints made by police.

"What’s kind of difficult for us is we can’t just point a finger at one party and say it’s because of this…this whole process has evolved over the last 12 months," he continued. 

"The license that we’ve got has been around since the 1990s from one of the venue traders at Manchester Lane Jazz Club and we inherited that license from the previous owners.

"I guess everything was triggered by the noise issue coming from the police."