Council considering if Timepiece licensing conditions need updating
Police say they found no evidence of spiking, after a complaint from a woman who collapsed both inside and outside the venue - as her legal team question the way she was supported
Following a suspected spiking incident, which saw a young woman taken to hospital after repeatedly collapsing, councillors are deciding if changes are needed at the venue.
Timepiece in Exeter say the student was supported by three staff members, and friends, after she collapsed in the venue in September, saying it did all it could.
The student was later picked up by an ambulance after lying in the street outside. Police say they've never found any evidence of spiking at Timepiece - which they've praised as a responsible business.
Following yesterday's hearing, Exeter City Council has indicated it will consider the evidence before setting out its recommendations - which could take five days.
The licence review was called to assess whether the premises failed 'to protect and aid a vulnerable young person who became unwell whilst on the premises. Including failing to call an ambulance and requesting the vulnerable person be removed from the immediate vicinity of the premises' and the 'failure to implement spiking protocol'.
The application from David Dadds, advocating for the young woman, referenced the licensing objectives of the 'prevention of crime and disorder and public safety'. He told the committee Timepiece was a place 'people like to frequent' and the application was to 'make sure that when people go to Timepiece they get home safe and sound', which he believed could be achieved by 'changing the way they work'.
The hearing heard a young woman became unwell at around 11pm on 19,09,2025. Mr Dadds told the committee he believed security should have 'intervened' and not allowed her to be 'removed from the premises' without 'an assessment'. He said the venue's own policy requires them to first 'assess that she would be in a fit state to leave safely’.
Mr Dadds said staff 'should be looking out for spiking' according to their own policy and the complainant can be seen going in 'waves of consciousness and unconsciousness' which is an 'indication' of spiking - and that the complainants' friends told a street pastor that they believed she had been spiked as she'd consumed the same amount that they had, who were all 'fine'.
The advocate said staff 'failed to keep her safe and sound and failed to make sure she got home safe and sound' and 'at no point did staff call an ambulance' and there 'appears to be victim blaming' as he suggested there seems to be a suggestion 'she didn't ask for an ambulance'.
In video footage the committee was shown the complainant arriving around 10.50pm with friends and looking 'in wellness', but then 19 minutes later being carried by friends back down the stairs 'being assisted' and with 'no control' - even falling headfirst down some stairs and 'clearly unconscious'.
Mr Dadds highlighted footage of the complainant again falling over after being taken to the venue's outside area and being told to stand and told stop 'being silly' and act sober to get a taxi. The young woman then collapsed 10 steps after leaving the exit of the premises, around the corner. CCTV footage showed a taxi driver continuing and not stopping, whilst the woman was on the floor and a street pastor walking across to see what was happening.
The venue's legal team did question whether it was clear the woman was unconscious and said body camera footage did show her friends saying 'they are looking to get a taxi' and the woman in question who collapsed 'did ask about her telephone'. The venue's legal team did cite three members of staff trying to help the complainant, who was with friends and had an 'exit plan' of a taxi, and pointed out staff could not see her falling in the street.
Around 15 minutes after leaving the venue a door staff member came out, around the corner, to see and checked in with the street pasters who said 'I think she'll be ok' as they suggested she was with friends - with the venue saying its door staff member was 'being very motherly'.
Mr Dadds has called for a named 'welfare officer' to be on duty at all times at the venue and a clearly signed 'welfare station', with all staff trained in annual 'vulnerability awareness' saying what he saw was 'unacceptable' and there were 'missed opportunities'. He cited that the venue earnt £1.4 million just though entry, before taking into account sales of alcohol, a claim questioned by the venue’s legal team.
During the meeting there was a discussion about how far outside the premises the venue was responsible for - with Mr Dodds suggesting he believed that door staff should be aware of vulnerabilities when a person is leaving and 'stop, think, act appropriately and review'.
The venue opened its doors in 1975 with the current owner involved since 1993 and it offers anti-spiking drinks covers and is a member of local schemes such as 'Best Bar None'. On the night in question, staff had been trained in spiking awareness and the venue's legal time say no recorded incidents have ever been upheld - with staff previously adhering to its own policy and highlighting any reports to police for investigation. The venue also shared praise from local street pastors about how well it cares for customers and their welfare and suggested reports of spiking increase in September as awareness is raised amongst student communities.
Chris Rees-Gay, from the venue's legal team, said staff were not made aware of any spiking allegations at the time and only found out about it when a review meeting of the licence was called - suggesting CCTV footage showed staff were 'compassionate' and that street pastors also thought 'she was just drunk'. They said 'at no point have we refused to call an ambulance' and they do not believe the friends were as 'worried' as first suggested and the complainant later said 'I'm really sorry' and was told 'it's fine' by staff as they cited the 'relaxed nature' of the friends around her and the fact she has since returned to the venue on multiple occasions.
Rob Skinner from Timepiece told the hearing the process had been ‘stressful and overwhelming’ and he treats customers as ‘somebody’s daughters and somebody’s sons’ – and takes the ‘responsibility seriously’.
He said three staff members have now left as they were ‘so upset’ about the allegations and they ‘aim to do our best’, calling the process ‘unfair and unnecessary’.
David Flynn, the alcohol licensing sergeant for Devon and Cornwall Police, told the hearing there was ‘no evidence’ of spiking and later testing suggested alcohol was prevalent in the complainant’s body. He said the staff member showed ‘due diligence’ in their response on the night and reports of spiking at the venue had risen after the licensing review was called.
He called the number of reported incidents to police relating to the venue ‘consistent with what I would expect’ - reflecting the venue's team were ‘going above and beyond’ what was expected of them. When asked if he was concerned about the young woman falling, he called it a ‘minor fall’ and said ‘unconscious people do not wave their arms’.
He suggested some of the council’s licence conditions needed updating such as ‘being a member of pubwatch’ which is impossible since there’s no group currently in existence in Exeter.
Karen Davenport, alcohol licensing officer at Devon and Cornwall Police, added that all 74 cameras at the venue worked and praised the venue for its approach to welfare.
Mr Dadds also called for general 'additional conditions around freshers' week to be considered – adding when we know 'students may enjoy themselves more than usual' and questioned why after pre-registering for a £2 timed entry ticket that venue-goers were unable to get in upstairs without £5 in cash - which he said could result in some people having to leave the premises to get cash, or having to go to the downstairs bar to get physical cash. The venue said the ‘cash requirement’ was to reduce queues as the area didn’t have great signal for taking payments.
The hearing heard the venue did not have a frontline operating licence at the time of the incident in question, but has since applied for one. Mr Dodds said he wanted the venue to ensure it had formal 'Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement' or Wave training - a course designed to equip individuals in customer-facing roles with awareness of vulnerability and their responsibilities towards customers. The venue told the hearing staff training had been refreshed prior to the incident and start of freshers' week.