Okoko nightclub defends age policy complaint

4:00pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Daniel Milligan

Okoko nightclub on Bridge Street. Okoko nightclub on Bridge Street.

ONE clubber said Okoko nightclub is adding to the demise of Taunton’s nightlife by not providing people under 20 with a place to party.

Sophie Blest, 19, of Wellington, said the town is gradually becoming quieter since the closure of Bliss and Okoko’s strict Saturday night policy, which only allows in people over 20, is not helping.

She said: “Okoko currently holds the monopoly in the town, and if something doesn’t change soon people will stay in or go out in other places.

“Taunton needs more for young people on Saturday nights or it’s going to keep getting worse.”

Okoko manager Michelle Andrews said the Bliss closure has meant they have to be extra vigilant with people under age.

She said: “We haven’t previously needed to be so strict but Saturday nights are capacity, so we see no reason to change our policy.

“We pride ourselves on providing a safe and enjoyable experience, and there are other nights of the week, such as our new Thursday night deals, when people aged 18-20 can come in.”

Comments(16)

Lucy1243 says...
5:03pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Trial over 18 for a month and see what happens?

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tf1123 says...
8:18pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Lucy1243 wrote:
Trial over 18 for a month and see what happens?
Fights, Underage with Fake ID and their licence will be revoked... Keep it as it is. Bliss was awful.

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Gemma2994 says...
11:49am Sat 16 Mar 13

Clearly Okoko have failed to consider that as 18-20 year olds the majority of people have college or work to go to on the Friday and so saying they are able to come in earlier in the week so does not make up for the fact they are not allowed in on Saturdays.
I don't think its right that the door staff pick and choose who they do and dont let in as I have seen first hand and will often let under 20's in if they are with a group of people over 20. This is clearly not the rules.
If Okoko's trust themselves to have staff under 20 and even a staff member UNDER 18, then they should be willing to at least undergo a trial month for 18 and overs.

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AdyAzure says...
12:07pm Sat 16 Mar 13

Agree with Gemma!
All of my friends and myself have college 9-5 on a Friday making it impossible to go out on a Thursday and have a decent night out!
We are 18 and it's legal for us to drink so as long as PROPER ID checks are made what's the problem?
Sort it out!

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Chessi says...
12:49pm Sat 16 Mar 13

I am 18 and from weston-super-mare, but I have friends and family that live in Taunton so I go out regularly there, and since the closure of bliss the nightlife for people in my age group has massively gone down hill and I have started going out in Taunton a lot less! Now in Taunton Okoko is one of the last clubs standing and it is a age 20 policy on a Saturday night, this means there is hardly anywhere for younger people to go, Okoko should defiantly change there policy to being over 18 always not 20 because it is putting young people off going out and making people like me from outside Taunton alot less likely to go out in Taunton and soon it will be like a ghost town on a Saturday night!

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Chessi says...
12:53pm Sat 16 Mar 13

And I have also seen first hand the bouncers and door staff picking and choosing which under 20 people to let in.. This is not then sticking by there own rules why shouldn't be able to let some 18 and 19 year olds in without letting them all in! They should just make it an 18 age limit so all this picking and choosing can stop as they are only breaking there own pointless rule!

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Molly Welch11 says...
1:40pm Sat 16 Mar 13

I totally agree with Gemma and Chessi about the age restriction on Okoko nightclub. There is literally no where decent in Taunton for students to go anymore due to the closure of bliss!! They should definitely do a trial just to see what it's like and then make a final decision. Also when Gaz from Geordie shore came to Taunton they were letting people who were 18 in just because they had a ticket which shouldn't of been allowed as they were turning away people who were 19?! Make one rule and stick to it :)

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bukkko says...
2:51pm Sat 16 Mar 13

Guys, you know there is more to do than go to a club?
It isn't the end of the world.
Most alcohol related problems are caused by under 25s who think they're old enough.
You don't need the clubs, but they need you to keep thinking you need them.
It's your life. Don't be one of those saddos who think you need to be drunk to be happy.

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AdyAzure says...
3:49pm Sat 16 Mar 13

bukkko wrote:
Guys, you know there is more to do than go to a club?
It isn't the end of the world.
Most alcohol related problems are caused by under 25s who think they're old enough.
You don't need the clubs, but they need you to keep thinking you need them.
It's your life. Don't be one of those saddos who think you need to be drunk to be happy.
We're not saying that. But unfortunately, it seems you have to be over 20 even if you just want to go to a club to dance. It's only natural for students to want to let their hair down. Many of my friends don't drink but love the atmosphere of being out and dancing to loud music.

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sophieblest says...
4:44pm Sat 16 Mar 13

It's not the end of the world? It maybe not but unfortunately your only young once. Were not all out there to cause trouble but to have a good time and enjoy our younger years by having a laugh. I don't just go out in okoko to get out of my face by drinking but to have a social life with my mates who are all older. I'm 20 in 5 months and I don't see how being 5 months older by being a different person! Okoko have been very understanding about it all, so I'm hoping it will all change for us younger ones! Or even a new club will hopefully come about :)

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Lucy1243 says...
5:18pm Sat 16 Mar 13

As a "younger one" I can see why Okoko are enforcing the under 20 policy on Saturday nights. With the closure of Bliss, the demand for Okoko on a Saturday night would have significantly increased and Okoko just doesn't have the space to cope with this demand. What I however completely disagree with is the argument put across by the older generation that we cause trouble. Most know that Okoko on saturday nights were relatively casual with the over 20 "rule" before the closure of Bliss because obviously their aim was to maximize profits. No significant trouble or complaints were raised then and I for one didn't see any disorderly behavior, so clearly we're not a problem. Though saying that I never dared enter Bliss on a Saturday night purely based on the reputation of people who went there!

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Jamesey says...
9:18pm Sat 16 Mar 13

It's a long time since I was an 18 year old in Taunton, but this is a ridiculous situation! It's no surprise that Taunton's nightlife is in decline if 18 to 20 year olds have nowhere to go late on Friday and Saturday nights.

It looks like some competition to Okoko is desperately required, before everyone heads off to Bristol and Exeter.

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Stevej5 says...
1:39pm Sun 17 Mar 13

When I was 18 Okoko let me in on a Saturday (Showed ID). Then you can go there the next week then the same bouncer won't let you in due to your age. The place is a sham and the management obviously are amateurs in the industry and need to be changed before they lose all the custom (which is very Likely if they carry on the way there going).

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sophieblest says...
2:54pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Jamesey wrote:
It's a long time since I was an 18 year old in Taunton, but this is a ridiculous situation! It's no surprise that Taunton's nightlife is in decline if 18 to 20 year olds have nowhere to go late on Friday and Saturday nights.

It looks like some competition to Okoko is desperately required, before everyone heads off to Bristol and Exeter.
Completely agree with you!

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okokoTaunton says...
5:02pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Thank you for the Feedback. As we explained in the article okoko has felt the need to be stricter with the Door Policy since the closure of Bliss. We will not be changing our Policy and will continue to strive for a more exclusive Saturday Night. Persons 18 and over are as always more than welcome to join us on Thursday and Friday Nights.

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Gemma2994 says...
6:37pm Wed 20 Mar 13

But yet you let some 18-19 year olds in you know them or there with others older.
Why have a policy that only applies to SOME 18-19 year olds?

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