Brighton and Hove City Council has refused an application that would have permitted a Whitehawk social venue to resume operations with alcohol sales.
The decision prevents the Valley Social Centre from being reinstated following the rejection of its club premises certificate request.
A three-member licensing panel concluded that the submitted proposal lacked sufficient consideration of relevant issues.
The councillors hearing the case were Andrei Czolak, Julie Cattell and Paul Nann.
During the proceedings, three of the six local residents who filed objections presented concerns regarding anti-social behaviour and the potential impact on young people in the area.
Alan Barnett, a trustee representing the venue, told the panel that operations would not run throughout the week.
Planned activities included a men’s darts session on Tuesday evenings with the possibility of establishing a women’s darts team.
General membership access would be available on Friday and Saturday evenings as well as Sunday afternoon periods.
At the licensing hearing conducted on 22 September, Barnett proposed implementing earlier closing times and additional restrictions governing when minors and teenagers would need to depart the premises.
While acknowledging the aspiration to establish an inclusive community environment, panel members expressed doubt that adequate management and compliance with conditions set by police could be assured.
In its formal determination, the council stated that panel members found the objections raised by local residents addressed valid matters concerning public nuisance prevention, crime and disorder reduction, and child welfare protection.
The decision document noted the locality presents difficulties and referenced accounts of previous problems with noise and disruption occurring when alcohol sales operated at the venue before 2012.
The panel nonetheless acknowledged the genuine intentions behind the proposal to develop a welcoming community facility.
It indicated that a revised application incorporating more detailed planning, engagement with nearby households and potentially local ward members, particularly regarding operating hours, programmed activities and child access policies, could prove more successful.
The Valley Social Centre retains entitlement to challenge the decision through the appeals process.
A campaign calling for the venue’s reopening was launched via the Change.org platform on 29 September.
The petition had accumulated close to 150 signatures at the time of publication.