AN AUTHENTIC clubbing experience will soon be available for under-18s – minus the drinking.

St Peter Port club Barbados will open its doors to youngsters on the last Saturday night of every month between 7 and 10pm.

Manager Adam Burroughs said the idea came about on Liberation Day last year.

‘When we looked at the day’s schedule, there wasn’t really anything for the under-18s so we thought we would give it a go,’ he said.

The club was almost filled to its capacity of 400.

The idea had been to stage the event as a one-off, but on the back of its success management began to look into a regular session.

The club, which normally opens at 10pm on a Saturday, will open to adults at 10.30pm on the under-18s night.

‘What we wanted to do was give them an authentic nightclub experience, but without the alcohol. The DJ will be the same as later in the evening and we will have the same lighting and atmosphere,’ he said.

All junior clubbers, aged 13-17, will be searched by male and female door staff for liquids or weapons.

‘We want to give the parents peace of mind that their children are going to be safe,’ said Mr Burroughs.

At 10pm, the club will be closed and searched before re-opening to over-18s.

‘There is nothing for kids to do in Town at the weekends. Hopefully we will stop the culture of them trying to get into pubs under-age by giving them something which is enjoyable and that they will prefer to be at,’ said Mr Burroughs.

Chief Inspector Ruari Hardy said Mr Burroughs had briefed police about the event and the force would respond appropriately.

‘We will have officers there, particularly at the end, to ensure there are no problems,’ he said. ‘We would encourage parents to arrange transport at the end so the youngsters can leave Town in a timely manner and reach home safely.’

Guernsey Licensed Victuallers’ Association vice chairman Peter Leigh said others had tried the idea before and it had been quite successful.

‘Kids these days have nowhere to go and I think it will be a success,’ he said.

‘You wouldn’t want youngsters hanging around the streets, but if the drink in the club is out of the way and the door monitored properly so none gets taken in, then I don’t see a problem.

‘It will help the youngsters learn how to behave responsibly before they get to 18 and show them that you don’t always need alcohol to have fun.’

Folies d’Amour general manager Tony Le Marchant agreed.

‘There’s nothing for the current generation of youngsters to do and it’s good that they can get out and get some experience of clubs before they’re 18,’ he said.

‘If a company was brave enough to open a place specifically for under-18s on a permanent basis, I think it would be popular, but I can’t see it happening in the current economical climate.’

Mr Le Marchant recalled the days of The Granary in the Grange, Huggy’s Pit on the Bridge and The Cellar Club in Le Truchot, which had all catered for youngsters at some point.

‘But vandalism was a big problem at all of them,’ he said.

Delta Taxis has agreed to put on extra cabs between 9.30 and 10.30pm on event nights.

‘We are very conscious that we need to look after the kids not only while they are in the club but when they leave as well. We need to ensure they get home safely,’ he said.

Under-18s will enter and exit the club from the door next to Checkers Express on the seafront.

nÊThe first under-18s night is on Saturday 28 March.

Entry will be £7 or £5 if a form on the back of flyers or on the website is completed. All drinks are included.

For more information, go to www.youthclubbing.com.

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