Southside barred

Regular patrons of Southside Bar who were dismayed to find their usual haunt closed last weekend will be relieved to learn that the bar should be back on stream by Friday. The bar was forced to close last weekend, during what is usually their busiest period, whilst contractors carried out emergency work to meet Licensing Authority standards. An Authority safety officer, who visited the premises on 27th February, ruled recent building works illegal and demanded the bar close immediately.

His decision came after refurbishments to Southside basement in preparation for the new health centre caused an alteration to the bar’s emergency exit. This route would have meant students crossing the training room, a plan which the inspector felt involved unnecessary risk.

Whilst the changed route had recently been approved by the District Surveyor, the licensing official disagreed and also stipulated that a door leading to a set of stairs, which formed an integral part of the escape route, was too narrow.

Ian Frame, Imperial College’s Projects Manager, spoke to the contractors working on the new medical centre and an alternative route was devised. According to Mr Frame all involved, including Ian Caldwell, are "a lot happier with the new route." He further commented that "It will simply involve people walking straight up the stairs and out of the building, allowing no confusion."

To make way for this diversion an existing wall had to be knocked through. If this wall had been a partition, the building work would have been finished in time for Friday night opening. However, the wall proved to be constructed from solid concrete and so the premises remained closed until Sunday evening.

Mr Roger Pownall, Southside Bars Manager was unavailable for comment as Felix went to press