Deaf Cat in Danger

I heartily agree re the late night crowds - I know which I'd prefer and whose music I find much less intrusive. I hope things are resolved, the Deaf cat is a marvellous place.

Same old councillors, same old High Street mafia, same old small-minded, backward looking attitudes - this reminds me of the problems the Wish it was a Brewery folk club had at the Kings Head in the late 70s/80s when it provided a venue for such internationally known names as Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy, and Dave Swarbrick and yet was constantly under attack from the High Street Idiotcrasy because of the 'noise; and disruption it caused every Friday night (****** folk harmonies!). Instead, they now have a City Centre nightclub and a Friday night experience that would dissuade most overnighting tourists from making further visits - though with its lairiness, leching, and brawling it proffers a much more genuine Dickensian experience than the pompous, facile, version the Council promotes.

Same old council, same old High Street mafia, same old attitudes - I remember the grief the Brewery Folk Club had in the late 70s/early 80s whilst it was providing a venue for such international stars as Richard Thompson, Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick etc. the idiotcrasy maintained an oppositional stance because of the 'noise' it was making on a Friday night. ****** rowdy folkies with all their harmonised singing! So instead of promoting cultural entrepreneurs they have ended up with a City Centre nightclub and a late evening experience on Fridays and Saturdays that would certainly dissuade most overnight tourists never to return.

Laura and Kevin, owners of The Deaf Cat, rightfully won an award ¨Best Newcomer¨ to Medway, last year, I am now totally at a loss to understand why they are now being treated in this way. The council should be with them and helping them not creating major hurdles in the hope that they will stumble. Wake up Rochester Council, go and take a visit to The Deaf Cat and see for yourself this unique and much welcomed venue. You should be proud to have this business in your borough. Do you really want more people joining the dole queue??

Gwen Bower 20/04/2011

I find it incredible that the Rochester traders aren't doing everything they can to encourage the Deaf Cat - surely the buzz they create brings footfall to the other traders? Very strange - and the council should be doing all they can for small businesses, not tying them up in red tape when they contribute so much to the local economy. I hope the Deaf Cat find a solution, I think they do a fabulous job.