Timepiece, a famous nightclub in Exeter, is under licence review following a suspected spiking incident.
An individual reportedly collapsed outside the venue, with a legal firm now accusing the club of failing to “protect and aid a vulnerable young person who became unwell whilst on the premises”.
According to DevonLive, an application to review the venue’s licence was submitted after the woman “became seriously unwell and collapsed immediately outside the premises upon exiting and having fallen ill inside the premises.
The incident happened on 20th September during Freshers’ Week, when thousands of students returned for the start of term. Extra police patrols were in place to help ensure young people’s safety around the city.
It is reported that the young woman showed “obvious signs of medical distress”, including a weak pulse, difficulty breathing, and foaming at the mouth.
The SIA door supervisors allegedly refused to call an ambulance and directed that she be moved away from the front of the premises rather than receive on-site assistance.
Medical students came to help her after witnessing a “potentially life-threatening medical emergency.” The student called their parent, a doctor, to assist over the telephone while they called an ambulance.
The application, published on Exeter City Council’s website, states that the grounds for the review are: “Failure 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.”
There are further claims that “insufficient ID checks and searches on entry to the premises” were made.
The application says the incident represents a failure to protect a vulnerable patron and does not align with the standards expected of a licensed premises.
Dadds, a solicitor’s practice, encourages anyone who has experienced a similar incident in the city to contact the firm.
It acknowledges that many young women attend these premises, and their parents and guardians expect the venue “would offer assistance if they became vulnerable for whatever reason.”
The date for the licence review hearing has not yet been set.
The council says that written representations about the application could be made by any interested party or responsible authority by 20th October 2025.
Further details regarding the application can be found on the council’s website.
Timepiece have not yet responded to a request for comment.
