Measures mean club deserves a chance
IT would appear that the Lakota nightclub is in the last-chance saloon. While the owner of the Stokes Croft club wants its reputation to be based on its music, the venue has rightly attracted headlines for other reasons.
First, it was the scene of the tragic death of 16-year-old Joe Simons, who died after taking ecstasy there.
Now it has emerged that – four months later – another teenager collapsed at the Lakota after taking drugs.
The police want the club closed for good and say that its door staff were involved in selling drugs themselves. And at Joe's inquest, it emerged that – while he lay collapsed on the floor – door staff had tried to persuade his friends to say he had bought drugs outside the club.
When faced with such tragic wrong-doing, most people might well walk away from such a business.
But not Lakota owner Marti Burgess. She seems to be one of those rare business people who admits her mistakes. And genuinely seems to want to put things right.
Ms Burgess has taken bold measures to crack down on the Lakota's apparent drug culture – new security, new managers, a new team, more CCTV, more searches, on-site paramedics and drugs dogs.
While it is unlikely that these measures will be of any comfort to Joe's family, Ms Burgess's tough – and honest – response means that she deserves the chance to prove the police wrong.
7 Comments
by chantri
Saturday, February 11 2012, 5:46PM
“This is absurd, i honestly that there are more behind these mean measures taken against this club.They have tried on many occasions to make things right and constantly they are faced with these sanctions.is it because they are BLACK or is it because they are highly rated? hmmm. There hass been international airports with sniffer dogs, xray machines and thousand of secuirty forces and somehow people pass through these ports with fake passports,drugs, guns etc. so what say a little club without these ammenioties.Please look at the broader picture.parents needs to be more responsible about knowing the whereabouts of their kids and what they are doing. fake Ids to get in pub? drugs and all this isnt a issue that the owners of Lakota alone should be held responsible for this is an issue of the nation also. for heaven sake give the poor blacks a chance.many whites goes into predominantly black countries and they are accepted and treated with respect even thoug at times they dont deserve it.”
by lynn_t
Thursday, February 09 2012, 5:18PM
“drugs are taken by various people all types of clubs in bristol.just because lakota is known for underground and a different type of music automatically people ASSUME that it is lakotas fault.when this is not the case.any person can secretly take drugs at any type of club in bristol and sadly these irresponsible people o.d or have serious affects or cause death.i really do not think this is 100% the clubs fault, they do not make people take them and they as every doorman should do and check.i think this club is partically targeted media wise more than the other clubs in town because its diffrent.this is one of the only original clubs with this music left in bristol.im sorry but i would rather go here for good music,good conversation than go to a club in town where you have under aged drinkers, who cannot handle their drink and start fights.i would pick lakota over the other clubs any day to avoid trouble which the rest of town brings!!!”
by 4becks
Thursday, February 09 2012, 12:59PM
“yes bristoldj - venues like lakota have always been the places to get away from the '*******s'
and avoid the UK social disease of drinking poison for 6 hours every weekend night. :-)”
by redvee
Thursday, February 09 2012, 12:35PM
“I'd be sad to see the place closed as the girls queing up on rave nights are dressed 'interestingly'”
by 4becks
Thursday, February 09 2012, 12:02PM
“'drug dogs' ??? that will be the end of her business - EVERYBODY knows that dance music culture involves taking drugs. Lakota has been in the forefront of this for 20 years now.
lakota came out of the rave scene and so she has just eliminated the client base from attending.
drugs are not sold in a dance venue with out the explicit knowledge of the security staff and/or the organisation behind the security staff, they are usually selling it themselves or getting a cut of the proceeds for turning a blind eye.
So lets get real people and accept that you are gambling with your health or life when you take MDMA or neck a half litre of vodka!!!!”
by BristolDJ
Thursday, February 09 2012, 11:02AM
“Really megasys?! I thought the majority of people who went there were always the loved up music loving kind... Granted I haven't been there in a couple of years!! It used to be the place where everyone who loved music went and everyone was nice.....
Suppose if you take away the drugs however.. Probably not so nice.”
by megasys2
Thursday, February 09 2012, 10:29AM
“Please please please keep this place open, that way, all the other clubs will have few less a**holes in them”