Earlier this year a special meeting of the assembly, which determines licensing applications in Jersey, was held to hear details of a licensing breach by MFA Licensing Ltd, the company that holds the sub-lease for Jersey Bowl.
The bench heard at the sitting that a Saturday-night rave held in the summer of 2013, when the lease was held by Garland Leisure, a company in the same ownership as MFA Licensing Ltd, had committed a number of licensing infractions.
The event, which was called the Duke Dumont Carnival, was run by organisers Rocksteady Promoters but breached licensing conditions at the Jersey Bowl premises.
Several members of the States Police’s Licensing Unit attended the rave to carry out a licensing check.
Under the conditions attached to Jersey Bowl’s restaurant and entertainment licences, the premises had to remain closed to the public after midnight each day, could not hold dancing or cabaret and could not have more than 420 people in attendance at any one time.
The rave, according to the judgment published this week, was said to have sold 550 tickets and finished at 2 am.
The Licensing Assembly accepted that MFA Licensing was not responsible for the event or the handling of the licence, which was held by Garland Leisure when the party was held.
However, setting out the details of the case, the assembly agreed that the law had been broken.
The judgment said: ‘The assembly considers that the running of the event was extraordinarily unsafe and created a serious risk for patrons attending it.’
Senior staff at Jersey Bowl and MFA Licensing Ltd put the error down to a genuine mistake and misunderstanding. The assembly praised Jersey Bowl, calling it a successful business that employed a large number of people, adding that the appearance before the court served as ‘a much-needed’ lesson.
The judgment added: ‘In the circumstances, it seems to us that the revocation or suspension of the licences would cause the employees of what is otherwise a well-
run business, its patrons and indeed the public at large some damage – in the case of the public because there would be loss of a useful Island facility.
At the sitting, Medhi Farahmand Afshar, the owner of both Garland Leisure and MFA Licensing, said that he was ashamed at the running of the event, which formed no part of his core business.
The assembly also urged MFA Licensing Ltd to take urgent legal advice to make sure that conditions attached to its licences were suitable.
DUKE Dumont took time out from his busy schedule to answer some questions for J2’s Clubbing page before his visit in 2013…
What’s your full name?
Adam Dyment
How and why did you get into music?
Because I aspired to be a record producer from an early age, and stuck with it.
I understand one of your parents was a record dealer – how did this shape your career choices?
It broadened my musical consciousness from an early age, giving me a good platform to develop my own tastes.
What was it like working on the FabricLive.51 compilation album and how did it come about?
I had consistently DJed at Fabric for about four years prior to the album, which is how it came about. I wasn’t 100% with it to be honest – I rarely am 100% happy with anything. I put myself under too much pressure recording it, and probably overthought it. However, I do think the mix has stood the test of time, and was a snap shot of what I was into at that period of time.
You’ve remixed and created your own tracks – which do you prefer doing and why?
Creating my own tracks – you start from a blank canvas, with no restriction.
How did it feel to get a number one with Need U (100%)?
Like I ticked off a box on the checklist on my life. Recently playing Need U to 80,000 people at Wembley was another tick in the box. I actually don’t have any goals, but when accomplishments like these happen, it makes me appreciate them.
Out of all your remixes and original tracks, which is your favourite and why?
I did a remix for an Australian group called the Canyons. It’s my favourite because I conveyed the emotion I wanted to convey, and complimented the original. With regards to original tracks, The Giver and my new one, Hold On.
If you weren’t in music, what would be your ideal job?
A philosopher or writer.
What has been the highlight of your music career so far?
The feeling that I can have a career from doing what I love.
What’s next for you?
Recording, DJing and travelling.
What tips do you have for aspiring DJs or people who want to get into the music industry?
