Chippenham's teen discos to switch to Jax nightclub (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Chippenham's teen discos to switch to Jax nightclub

8:15am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By Jill Crooks

Young people in Chippenham have a new venue for the Bluez n Zuz discos organised by the police.

The discos, for young people aged 11 to 16, had been held on and off but will now be held on a Friday every month.

They were previously held at the Olympiad but are now going to be at a new venue, Jax bar on The Bridge.

PCSO Sarah Hardwidge, who has recently moved to Chippenham Police from Calne, will be co-ordinating the discos. She ran Bluez n Zuz discos in Calne for five years and wants to repeat the success they had there in Chippenham.

She said: “In Calne we had between 200 and 300 young people attend each month. I would like to achieve that in Chippenham.

“There’s definitely a need for it in Chippenham. About 60 attend the Chippenham discos. The last one was in June but they will be held every month.

“The aim of the discos is to provide the young people of Chippenham with a safe, supervised and friendly environment to socialise in and have fun.

“It is also a fantastic opportunity for the local officers to build links with the youngsters and show we are approachable.

“Jax is a fantastic venue. It is in the centre of town. It is already a nightclub and has a party feel to it. It also has an enclosed section outside where the young people can go and be safe. The management at Jax were very friendly, welcoming and keen to be on board.”

John Poulton, doorman at Jax, said: “We wanted to help as there isn’t anything like the discos for young people in Chippenham to go to.

“We get on really well with the community police and we hope it will be well supported. “The Bluez n Zuz discos will run from 7pm to 9pm. Unless we have a private function we don’t normally open until 10pm so it fits it nicely.” The first disco is on November 9 from 7pm to 9pm. The theme is a neon night and there will be mystery prizes. A tuck shop will be available. Entry is £2.

For more information about the discos go to facebook.com/blueznzuz