There is a distinction between a public entertainment area where music is played and a nightclub, it was argued in the High Court in Dublin yesterday.
The operators of the Spirit entertainment premises on Middle Abbey Street claimed that an attempt by Dublin City Council to prevent the premises being used as a nightclub demonstrates an "overly narrow interpretation" of what is involved in a place of public entertainment.
What was involved in Spirit was a "multi-media event centre" with comedy and live entertainment shows.
It was like a modern stage version of The Good Old Days, a popular show from years gone by, but designed to appeal to young people.
DJs were involved but today DJs were recognised as performance artists.
There was no definition of what is meant by a place of public entertainment in the Dublin City Development Plan and the council was seeking to prevent the Spirit club from being operated as a nightclub without defining what was meant by nightclub, the court was told. This was "entirely unsatisfactory".
Mr Eamon Galligan SC, for Liffeybeat Ltd, said some of the activities at the Spirit premises were similar to those at the Point and Gaiety theatres.
The hearing continues today.
