Fuzzy Ducks student night gets new home (From The Oxford Times)

Fuzzy Ducks student night gets new home

10:20am Friday 10th August 2012 in News By Oliver Evans, covering Banbury. Call me on 01865 425271

Wahoo manager Pete Mortimore, left, and assistant manager Carl Brooks raise a glass to the future success of Fuzzy Ducks

A CONTROVERSIAL student night has found a new home in the city centre.

Fuzzy Ducks, which left the O2 Academy in Cowley Road after complaints from residents, will now be held at Wahoo in Hythe Bridge Street.

It will start on September 19 and be held every Wednesday during term time.

The Oxford Mail last week revealed the night will not return to Cowley Road’s O2 Academy, to the delight of residents plagued by drunken behaviour.

It is hoped the new venue will attract fewer complaints as there are less homes nearby and the area is already crowded with nightspots.

But some neighbours have raised concerns about increased drunken behaviour and noise.

Wahoo general manager Pete Mortimore said: “If it wasn’t here it would be somewhere else in the city.

“It is more central, there are fewer residents, but that is not to say that is not an issue we have to concern ourselves with.

“Where there are residents we have to keep their best interests at heart.”

Up to 12 stewards will help disperse patrons, he said, adding: “It is simple things like making sure doors are closed and asking people to keep the noise down when they leave.”

The night – aimed at university sports teams – will run to 2am with promoter Sam Zappi. But “overly sexualised” promotions like wet T-shirt competitions will be axed following concerns from police and Oxford City Council , added Mr Mortimore.

The nearest residential street is cul-de-sac Upper Fisher Row opposite, where residents gave a mixed reaction.

Musician Tom Shelley, 22, said: “There is noise from Wahoo at night which, for me, isn’t such a big deal.

“I’m a bit younger and have less responsibilities.

“It is not a problem until it becomes a problem.”

But resident of 50 years Ron Slatter, 72, said: “We have had promises similar to that from Wahoo and it doesn’t seem to materialise.

“We have got used to it but it does concern me we are going to have even more.”

Diane Rimmer, 50, said: “The Students have been fine. It is nice to have a bit of fun.”

Carfax city councillor Tony Brett said: “The management at Wahoo are very good at controlling crowds and dispersing them.

“The city centre is not East Oxford, it is not as heavily residential. Hopefully it will be less of a problem.”

The O2 has joined with Oxford Brookes University Students’ Union to hold a “Brookes Big Night Out” from September 19.

East Oxford Residents’ Association spokesman Ed Chipperfield said: “It is good Fuzzy Ducks has gone somewhere like there because that is an area where there is lots of night-time activity.

“It is good news for East Oxford. It was always a bit out of place. It was the only venue with that kind of capacity.”