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No more live performances at Blu Jaz Cafe from February; public entertainment licence cancelled for good

SINGAPORE – The decision is final. From next month, there will be no more live performances at popular entertainment venue Blu Jaz Cafe after its appeal against the cancellation of its public entertainment licence was rejected, the police said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 3).

The police decided to cancel its licence primarily due to overcrowding issues, with the cafe allowing more than five times the permitted number of people on its second floor on two occasions last year, which the police said posed very serious safety risks.

The police decided to cancel its licence primarily due to overcrowding issues, with the cafe allowing more than five times the permitted number of people on its second floor on two occasions last year, which the police said posed very serious safety risks.

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SINGAPORE – The decision is final. From next month, there will be no more live performances at popular entertainment venue Blu Jaz Cafe after its appeal against the cancellation of its public entertainment licence was rejected, the police said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 3).

The decision was made on Dec 31 last year by the Public Entertainment Appeal Board (PEAB), an independent body that comprises senior representatives from the legal, social, business and health sectors.

“Police understand that in arriving at its decision, the PEAB weighed a variety of factors, including Blu Jaz Cafe’s contribution to the arts and music scene in Singapore, its track record, its remedial actions and the severity of the overcrowding offences that resulted in serious public safety concerns,” said a police spokesperson.

Last October, it emerged that Blu Jaz Cafe’s public entertainment licence will be cancelled from Oct 22, after the police dismissed its initial appeal on Sept 11 last year. Blu Jaz Cafe went on to appeal to the PEAB as a result.

The police decided to cancel its licence primarily due to overcrowding issues, with the cafe allowing more than five times the permitted number of people on its second floor on two occasions last year, which the police said posed very serious safety risks.

On April 28 last year, the police found that there were more than 150 people on the second floor of the popular bar, which only has an approved occupancy load of 30 people.

In a follow-up check a few weeks later on May 5, the police found an even higher number of people than the approved limit — close to 200 people on the second floor. This was more than six times the approved occupancy load.

Such severe overcrowding would have posed major safety risks to patrons and staff, especially in the event of a fire, and could result in a stampede if there was a need for evacuation, the police said in their statement on Thursday.

Blu Jaz Cafe, which opened in 2005 at the corner of Bali Lane in the Kampong Glam district, has been featuring live musical acts such as jazz bands, comedy nights, and open mic poetry sessions. Movie screenings and dance parties are also part of its programmes.

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Blu Jaz Cafe licence police entertainment safety music

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