Club owners try to resolve licence row

THE European Family Club, also popularly known as Garveys, was officially re-opened to patrons yesterday, although food and beverages are still not being served.

The extremely popular club among Westerners was shut down on the New Year’s Eve. Alcohol was being consumed at the time during what the management described as “a private party”, leading to speculation and rumour regarding the uncertainty surrounding the club’s closure.

Garveys has been allowed to re-open after paying a fine of QR5,000 while the “paperwork issue continues to be resolved.”

By yesterday, the gym and other sports facilities at the four-and-a-half-year old club located on the Salwa Road were re-opened to members, although no food and beverages were available.

“They were accused of ‘trading illegally’ by the Doha Municipality,” a source close to the owners told Gulf Times yesterday.

According to him, Garveys had a licence to obtain liquor from the country’s only distribution company, but did not have a licence from Doha Municipality to sell it, or any type of beverage or even food.

“The management had understood that because no one including their sponsor, the distribution company or even the municipality has ever objected to the club selling food and beverages, including alcoholic, there was no problem. It was naïve on their part,” the source said.

Although rules and regulations pertaining to individual permits to buy and consume alcohol in Qatar are very clear, those for establishments continue to be hazy, sources in the hospitality industry told Gulf Times yesterday.

Meanwhile, those present at the time of the incident on December 31 and other sources have told Gulf Times that uniformed police showed up at the Club, run by three brothers from the UK, at around 10.15pm and while the customers were told to go home, some members of management and 22 staff were taken into custody.

At the time, 200 guests, including 120 in the main club and 80 in the glasshouse, were present.

“The members of management were let go the next day on a bail of QR3,000. No one is being deported,” the source close to the management said.

“The objection on the presence of servers was they belonged to other companies, but because the management has four other registered businesses, employees from those companies were simply helping out,” the source said.

“In terms of law, the authorities were right. However, in terms of timing, the incident was not charming.”

Meanwhile, some of the long-time patrons of Garveys have told Gulf Times that it “would be a sad day if the place was to shut down”.

“I for one like to have a beer with my friends on occasion, and contrary to popular belief, cannot afford to go to hotels and pay the ridiculously high prices being charged there,” one said.

“The majority of expatriates are not looking for special treatment but wish to go somewhere with like minded people. Places like Garveys provide that service and it will be a sad day for all expatriates if it is gone,” he added.

A court case accusing the Club of “trading illegally” continues, but according to the same sources it is “expected to be resolved without going to that length.”