Licence application for Birmingham venue where Cody Fisher murder took place

Former Birmingham City FC academy footballer Cody Fisher, who also played for Bromsgrove Sporting and Stratford Town, was fatally stabbed at the Crane nightclub on Boxing Day 2022.

Following the shocking incident, the club’s premises licence was suspended as an interim step and then later revoked by a licensing sub-committee.

But the premises, now named Kanvas, has applied for a new licence for the sale of alcohol and ‘regulated entertainment’ such as live music.

A representation, submitted on behalf of the chief constable of West Midlands Police, objected to this application however “due to concerns around the promotion of crime and disorder and public safety licensing objectives”.

“The venue previously operated as The Crane nightclub where a young man, Cody Fisher, lost his life on Boxing Day 2022 after being stabbed to death inside the venue,” it said.

“West Midlands Police believe the application now being made is linked to the previous owners and is not a completely new and detached operator looking to reopen the venue.”

It went on to say that an appeal by licence holder Digital Arts Media Ltd against the previous decision to revoke the licence is “still months away from being resolved”.

“This application, if granted, could mean that 50 Adderley Street could be trading well before the appeal is heard and determined by the appeal court,” it said.

“The council ought not to endorse the current attempt to bypass the earlier decision of the council to revoke the licence and deprive the appeal court of the opportunity to consider and determine the current appeal.

“That is achieved by rejecting this new application and permitting the appeal process to reach a conclusion before pre-empting the result.”

The application will be considered at a licensing sub-committee next week on Wednesday, May 7.