NOISY smokers outside an Old Town nightclub are forcing residents to move away from the area so they can get some sleep.
Cabaret Voltaire is now under investigation from the city council over complaints about noise from clubbers when they step outside for a cigarette.
Angry residents on Blair Street, which is home to a number of bars and clubs, say the disruption has become so bad that at least two residents are moving to quieter parts of the city.
They believe that management at the venue should act to ensure their customers keep the noise down.
But Cabaret Voltaire insists it is doing "everything it can" to keep the disturbance from customers to a minimum.
Jamie Curran, who has lived in Blair Street for five years, said the situation has become so unbearable that he is moving out of his flat.
"We've even started giving out lollipops to customers as they leave in an effort to keep the street quiet" SARAH DAVID
The 23-year-old business management graduate even started a campaign and website last year called Be Seen Not Heard and asked Cabaret Voltaire's management and the council to work with him to come up with a solution.
He strongly believes the club should take a "pro-active" approach by encouraging smokers to show more respect for their neighbours.
He said: "The onus is on them [the management] to sort it out.
"They could have done more and should have done more and I'm not surprised that they are under investigation.
"It shouldn't take people coming along and criticising them before they do something about it. It's all about social responsibility and having respect for other people."
Residents claim there can be as many as 100 people at once gathered outside the venue smoking and chatting loudly.
They also say revellers hang about outside the club until at least 4am - an hour after closing time - as it has become a "culture" since the smoking ban was introduced.
Sarah David, Cabaret Voltaire's managing director, insists that the club actively encourages customers to have respect for nearby residents.
She said: "Cabaret Voltaire has a very small and basic standing area for smokers, limited to 40 people maximum, which is closely monitored at all times by our staff.
"Anyone who has been to the club before will have noticed signage and door staff requesting our patrons have respect for our neighbours while outside the building.
"Cabaret Voltaire is located on a busy city centre street, with at least six other venues with 3am licences in close proximity, not to mention passing noise from local bars' customers.
"We are doing everything we can to keep noise to a minimum.
"We've even started giving out lollipops to customers as they leave the club at close in an effort to keep the street as quiet as possible as they make their way home."
But John Cant, 53, says he has never known clubbers to leave Cabaret Voltaire quietly.
He has lived on Blair Street for more than a year, but has finally had enough and is also moving out.
He said: "It's just unliveable here and I can't stand it any more. It's like a street party outside, especially when the weather's good.
"Obviously people have chosen to live on this street and it is a very lively street, but the club should be taking responsibility to move people on."
Richard Curran, 21, who lived in Blair Street until two years ago, added: "I live on North Bridge now and although it's a much busier and noisier street generally, at night it's much quieter than living on Blair Street.
"Before the smoking ban, you obviously used to get noise when people left the club, but now it's constant, all through the night from about midnight to 4am.
"No-one thought about that when they introduced the smoking ban."
