THE owner of a Birmingham nightspot has had his licence revoked after fire chiefs told a committee the venue was ‘a tragedy waiting to happen’.

Baron Williams, joint owner of the Basement Bar and Restaurant in Livery Street, in the Jewellery Quarter, was told by city licensing chiefs that he had failed to control the premises.

It was also said that he had flagrantly ignored advice given by fire safety officers.

Dave Bromley of West Midlands Fire Service said: “This is only the second time the Fire Service has called a license review, we don’t take this action lightly.

“This was a tragedy waiting to happen.”

Council Licensing committee chairman Nigel Dawkins said: “In all my years I have been doing this I have never seen such a serious case, the consequences of which could have been quite shocking.