Yotty’s future looking bleak

The Waikato District Council licensing division is opposing the renewal of the liquor licence for the YOT Club, Raglan’s community based /music friendly venue. The Waikato District Council Licensing Committee will be considering the renewal application at a hearing in Ngaruawahia on the 23rd and 24th January. The hearing will decide if a license is granted or not.

The “Yotty”, as it is commonly known, is home to Sunday Sessions, which provide a popular spot for local DJs and musicians over summer months. In the evenings for nine months of the year the Yotty presents an array of events trying to cater to all elements of the community. From Reggae, Punk Rock, Ska, Funk, Dance Hall, Dub, all types of DJ based electronic music and everything in between.

In addition the business supports local Raglan events and organisations through sponsorship and other means.

Andrew Meek owner of the YOT Club says that because of the opposition and the associated high costs, “without support the Yotty’s future could be looking bleak”. So he sent out a personal appeal to the community for indications of support.

There were 464 comments on Facebook supporting the YOT Club. A couple of representative ones:

“What a shame the WDC don’t see and appreciate you and your staff for what you deliver the raglan community. We are truly lucky to have your commitment to hospitality and entertainment, I cannot imagine raglan without the Yot Club. This is obviously the council’s plan and they seem to be stopping at nothing to get their result. I truly feel for you Andy having to prepare for this hearing.”

“This establishment is a necessary part of Raglans framework. It’s brings not only a lot of enjoyment to music lovers but also brings many people here who as a result support many other Raglan businesses throughout the year. Council need to look at the bigger picture. 100% supporter of the YOT and Andy.”

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The full message from Andrew Meek is: 

For those who don’t know me personally, Andrew Meek is my real name. I am the owner of Ink bar in Auckland for 16 years and The Yot Club in Raglan for just over 3 years. I would appreciate anyone who has attended, performed, or managed people who have performed at my bar/nightclubs, to read this entire message. Feel free to share far and wide. Likewise, any residents of Raglan who enjoy being patrons at the Yot Club.

I am facing very heavy resistance from the Licensing Authority in the Waikato to renew my liquor licence at the Yot Club so have decided to go public to gain support from the public prior my hearing on the 23rd/24th January.

I really need support here. If you like what I do or what I stand for please make a post or even better take the time to send an email to yotclubraglan@gmail.com. Every piece of support will be presented to the Licencing Authority.

Without support, the Yotty’s future could be looking bleak. It’s going to cost me well over $25000 in legal costs to fight to be compliant and to keep my licence . A hard ask when 85% of my gigs lose money as I choose to operate through harsh Raglan winters.

The Yot Club in its current guise as a community based /music friendly venue was started by Peter Coddington in 2008. It prospered and quickly became one of New Zealand’s iconic live band and DJ venues, a testament to Peter and his family’s hospitality and dedication.

The Coddington’s chose to sell to me in late 2013, feeling confident that I was the right person to carry on their outstanding work. I instantly had issues with licensing. I was granted a liquor licence with very strict conditions on July 12th 2015 for one year. Due to the seriousness of the possible outcome I had to employ a lawyer for my whole hearing, at a considerable expense.

The Waikato District Council (WDC) licensing officer that I deal with has opposed my liquor licence on 10 grounds. Most of these are of the procedural /administrative type which would count for little individually but when all put together present a package that means I am forced again to seek legal counsel to defend every charge or issue.

My concern is that none of the fantastic work that me and my team do is taken into consideration. Far easier for me to be ripped to shreds for having a couple of light bulbs not working. Or appearing to have no one dedicated to the kitchen where we only reheat food. Or through an administrative oversight being late to pay my Food Registration Fee when my Kitchen is the lowest possible Food Grade ie Reheat food only .

I am immensely proud of the work myself and my incredible team do. We have taken what we inherited from the Coddington’s and continued to evolve it, just as Pete would have done if he kept it. I am fortunate enough to be assisted by a head of security who is the equal of any of the remarkable men I have had running my Auckland nightclubs for 16 plus years and a manager who does everything I have ever asked of him with a smile on his face and to a very high level of proficiency. Our staff training systems are robust and we try and employ locals both behind the bar and doing security while training them up and getting them qualified. I am immensely proud of all my staff who at all times behave with a high level of professionalism and always with smiles on their faces, sometimes in very trying circumstances .

For 9 months of the year we present an astonishing array of events trying to cater to all elements of the community . From Reggae, Punk Rock, Ska, Funk, Dance Hall, Dub, all types of DJ based electronic music and everything in between – we do it all . Because of the Yot Club’s reputation and my personal contacts we are able to insist that most of New Zealand’s leading artists such as Holly Smith, State of Mind, Tiki Taane, Concord Dawn,all kiwis but with large international followings come and play Raglan rather than Hamilton. This brings enormous benefits to the community.

We are able to secure iconic world renowned artists such as Johnny Osborne, The King Brothers and The Mad Professor to perform shows in Raglan and Auckland only, cutting the rest of the country out. We regularly get incredible bands and artists of the ilk of Trinity Roots, Head like a Hole, Laughton Kora, My Baby, 1840, Summer Thieves, members of Shapeshifter – to come and perform here. All of the country’s top DJ’s climb over themselves to play in Raglan.

We nurture and encourage local music – Cornerstone Roots, Mighty Mighty, The Illicit Wah Wahz, Strangely Arousing, Raph Henderson/Flowidus, MC Rafiki/Reiki – all play sold out shows here to rabid audiences. Our local DJ’s Jamin I, Dubsonic, Bobo, DJ Sweep, Red Robin, TwoKay, Atmosphere, Jake de la Ribs Rayner, Matt Duff and all the others who play are world class and easily hold there own with the stars they support .

Our Sunday Sessions are astonishing – a truly world class event where we get major international talent fighting to play. Recently DJ Hype, The Mad Professor, Tiki’s 40th after party Sunday Session were all gigs impossible to beat. Truly world class . Amongst the very best in the 3000 odd gigs I have put on or approved in my venues in the 16 plus years I have been lucky enough to do this for a job.

What we have here in Raglan is something unmatched anywhere in the world. A community of 3,500 residents of many types and leanings that support, nurture and encourage music to such a degree that the Yot Club can do what it does. This is despite being in a ramshackle rundown eyesore of a building with no sound insulation whatsoever placed in the middle of town. I can never thank my immediate neighbours enough for letting me operate an international class venue with international class production.

What me and my team do here is astonishing in my mind. We run world class gigs, constantly having to allow for so many different types of people. Staunch locals, visiting surfers, local freaks, tourists travelling through, travellers who stay, kiwis brought here by the full Raglan package – surf, food, music, invaders from the Tron. Every night that we open is a very complex event. Lots of different people, most of whom have been pre-loading, all trying to enjoy themselves. But almost every night me and my staff and our acts smash it out of the park.

The WDC operates a very very conservative alcohol policy. I am certainly not the only one forced to comply with overly onerous conditions. Every operator in town that I see maintains very high standards. This isn’t because of the standards set by the licensing people though it is because of the very high standards that we all set ourselves. because if we don’t produce the goods we will go out of business. It’s just a pity that the council don’t see that .

To the best of my knowledge not one person opposed my liquor licence through the proper authorities. If anyone ever has any issues I try to make my number available through different channels. I have a history of trying to work through issues with people, and will continue to do so.

My family and I long ago sold up in Auckland and moved to Raglan permanently. We love being part of the vibrant diverse community and look forward to many more years of contributing to our beautiful unique village. I still own my main Auckland nightclub after 16 years and look forward to keep evolving the Yot Club from the world renowned venue it is now to an iconic one.

So I urge everyone who loves what we do to please show your support in time for the hearing on the 23rd of January and share with as many people as possible. We need your support.