Police object to new club opening in former Smethwick bar after shooting and cannabis farm find
West Midlands Police has raised ‘serious concerns’ over plans to open a new late-night club at a former bar that was forced to close after a shooting.
Kastriot Haxhiaj applied to Sandwell Council in September to open the new West Side Lounge on the first floor of the former Avenue Bar and Grill in Rolfe Street, Smethwick.
The bar and grill was forced to close down after it was the scene of an attempted murder in 2024 following an early-hours shooting and police later discovered a £300,000 cannabis farm during a raid a year later.
West Midlands Police has objected to the new move saying it has “serious concerns” over opening another late-night venue given the building’s recent history.
However, Rob Edge, representing Mr Haxhiaj, said it was “inappropriate and unjust” for West Midlands Police to object over unconnected past events at the venue and the application should be judged “on its own merits.”
He added the force’s objection was “misdirected.”
“At the outset, it is essential to emphasise that this is a new application made by a new applicant who has no connection with any previous owners or licence holders associated with the premises,” he said in a response to Sandwell Council.
“The incidents referenced to by West Midlands Police relate entirely to the operation of the premises under previous ownership and management, during the period of a now revoked licence.
“The applicant was not involved in the running of the venue at that time. It would therefore be inappropriate and unjust to attribute past incidents or management failings to the current applicant.
The application asked for permission to sell alcohol and play live and recorded music at the “high-class lounge bar” every day from 8am to 3am and open until 3.30am.
Sandwell Council’s licensing committee meets in Oldbury on October 30 to make a decision.
Avenue Bar and Grill had its licence revoked by Sandwell Council in July 2024 after the shooting.
The licence was suspended a month earlier pending a full investigation with West Midlands Police calling for it to be revoked.
Police carried out a raid at the former bar and grill on August 1 finding 300 cannabis plants, more drugs and and an imitation gun hidden inside a printer.
A ‘large’ amount of money was also seized from gambling machines and officers found the building’s electricity had been bypassed.
Jack Kabeya was one of three men identified by police over the attempted murder at the bar and grill on June 17 last year.
After learning of an associate’s arrest, the 21-year-old Kabeya, who had previous convictions for drugs and knife offences, fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo using his brother’s passport.
He was arrested at Gatwick Airport on his return from Qatar around three weeks later.
Last October, Kabeya, of Kitchener Road, Selly Park, admitted at Birmingham Crown Court to two charges of possessing someone else’s identity document with intent and was sentenced to 22 months in prison.
