Nottingham’s pub has announced that it will ban men for one evening a week after receiving reports of women getting injections while clubbing in the area.
The Playwright is located near Nottingham Trent University’s campus. On November 3, it will host its first girls-only night.
All of the staff that night will be made up of women.
Nottinghamshire Live was told by Josh Wheelhouse that the pub’s manager said they were just excited to do it.
The Playwright pub, Nottingham (pictured), will only allow girls one night per week starting November 3. After multiple reports of women being injected in the city, as well as elsewhere in the UK, the weekly ban on men was put in place.
“I have spoken to a few societies at Nottingham Trent University and we will actually organize workshops to educate women about what to do when they are in danger.”
Mr Wheelhouse stated that at first he was unsure whether to ban men from doing this because he was afraid people might see him as the man who is trying make money out of the ‘terrible thing that happens to females’.
He said, however, that he needed to do something.
“I don’t think it is fair that women should stay at home.
“We should be the ones doing that.”
The pub manager stated that he was in discussions to discuss similar bans with other pubs.
A number of women have recently shared their experiences with being spiked.
Kirsty, a Swansea resident, was enjoying a drink when she was accidentally given an unknown substance. She was unconscious. She stated that she was’very shaken and anxious’ to get out again.
Kirsty Howells (25), shared a picture taken from her hospital bed after she was spiked. This is when victims are drugged unknowingly – in Swansea, one evening
Kirsty, 25, was pictured unconscious in hospital after she was ‘injected with Ketamine’. She was one of many women who had reported being’spiked’ in nightclubs.
Miss Howells posted a picture taken in hospital after a night out in Swansea.
It was shared on Facebook by her aunt, who said Ms Howells is thought to have been ‘injected with ketamine’, before being rushed to A&E by her boyfriend.
AZara Owen, a university student aged 19, said that she was also spiked while out at Nottingham’s Pryzm nightclub, October 11. She woke up the next day with a limp and a pinprick’ on one leg.
Zara Owen said she woke up ‘with a limp’ before finding a ‘pinprick’ on her leg the morning after attending Nottingham’s Pryzm nightclub
The entrance to Nottingham’s Pryzm nightclub, where Ms Owen claims to have been spiked by a needle amid similar reports elsewhere in the UK
She said she remembered entering the bar with friends, and that she made it to the bar. However, that was all she could recall before she woke up in her bed the next morning.
Ms Owen tweeted, “I woke up fine, with no hangover or any other symptoms except a sharp pain in my leg.
“I told my mum that it might have been a pulled muscles, but then I realized that I didn’t remember anything.
“I had no choice but to go to college and realized I had a massive limp. I wouldn’t have missed it if my memory was right, but this is a strange thing that never happens to me and it really puzzled me.
“I decided to go to hospital for a check-up, but after eight hours spent only receiving a triage report and background information, it was time to decide to go home.
Zara Owen stated that she noticed a pinprick on her leg one day later (pictured above). She said she was not suffering from a hangover, but was experiencing sharp pains in her leg.
“The next day, I felt my leg again and examined it more closely as I wasn’t getting any medical help. I felt the most pain, so I touched it. I found a pinprick. I had been spiked.
‘I was wearing jeans. A needle went straight through thick denim and got into my leg.
Stealth in Nottingham, another nightclub, reported that it also received reports about two women feeling unwell during the last fortnight because of being spiked.
One 19-year old woman claimed that she was the victim of a mysterious liquid as she left the venue at October 12.
Ellie Simpson claimed that her sister felt a pinch on her back, before she blacked out and was taken to hospital. Blood samples were taken.
Stealth is another Nottingham nightclub. It also reported that two women felt unwell after being spiked.
Ms Simpson, 21, said that she was ‘in shock” and that her sister hadn’t been out clubbing since the incident.
According to her, “Normally, she’s the type person that would stand up for herself. So I think if it can happen to her, it could happen also to somebody more vulnerable.
“I don’t believe it’s yet sink in what’s been done to her.
“It’s really scary because I don’t know how to prevent it.
Nottinghamshire Police said that a male suspect had been arrested but didn’t say what the incident was.
“Obviously, you can put your hands over your drink but how are you going to stop someone stabbing you with an ice pick?”
Stealth released the following statement: “We, like our customers, are concerned about the national news reports regarding spiking in bars, nightclubs, and around the UK. We believe it is absolutely unacceptable that women have to live in fear of being spiked at nightclubs and bars.
“Here at Stealth in recent weeks, two of our customers reported feeling unwell and suspect they were spiked. Both were treated by our on-site doctor who ensured they were well taken care of and were able leave the venue. We are also liaising closely with police to assist them in their ongoing investigations.
“Customer safety is our top priority. Our goal is to create a safe environment that allows people to enjoy a night out and come together.
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that a local male was bailed after a report about an incident in Lower Parliament Street last October 16.
The man was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A and class B and cause administer poison or noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve and annoy.
A spokesperson for police stated that they are currently investigating reports that people suspect their drinks may have been spiked.
“Linked to this, a few victims have reported feeling a scratching sensation similar to someone having spiked them. All reports are being investigated.
“We have a dedicated group currently carrying out CCTV enquires in various locations where we’ve received such reports.
“Our investigations into these incidents are ongoing, but we understand that people may be concerned by incidents like this. We want to reassure them that we are working extremely hard to investigate.
The statement continued, “What we need is for any person who experiences such an incident while on a night out to contact us immediately so that we can investigate as soon as possible and obtain evidence quickly.”
Ilana Elbaz (20), said that she was semi-paralysed on stairs after returning from a Bristol club. She shared a video of her struggling up the stairs, her eyes rolling and her head falling into the railings.
Meanwhile, Ilana El-baz, 20, recalled how she was ‘left semi-paralysed’ on a staircase after returning home from a Bristol nightclub three weeks ago.
Two teenagers aged 18 and 19 were arrested in Nottingham ‘on suspicion’ of conspiring to administer poison. A 35-year-old man was arrested last night on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to distribute them at a Lincoln nightclub.
Students will also boycott nightclubs as part of nationwide protests. More than 30 universities are participating in the campaign to make venues more safe.
Over 130,000 people have signed a petition calling on nightclubs to “thoroughly” search all customers upon arrival, following reports of needle spiking in Nottingham.
Over the next fortnight, the Girls’ Night in campaign will be spread across 43 universities towns and cities. It is in response to a rise in drinks being “spiked” and a disturbing trend of girls being unknowingly injected with drugs.
Victims often become violently ill when out and only realize they have been injected after they find ‘pin-prick’ marks on the bodies.
Participants in the boycott will remain at home on a designated night to raise awareness about the attacks and encourage security venues to improve security.
According to the US National Center for Biotechnology Information Rohypnol and GHB are two of the most prominent ‘date rape’ drugs used by criminals.
According to the NCBI with GHB, as little as 2g (which is often a powder that can mixed in an alcoholic beverage) can cause deep sleep within minutes.
The half-life is 27 minutes. The drug is almost impossible after 96 hours.
Experts warn Rohypnol can also be used as a powerful sedative, with legitimate uses such as a pre-anaesthetic and a sleeping pill.
It can be used as a rape drug for dates. It can affect a victim in ten minutes, and peak eight hours later.
It is tasteless, colourless, and odourless. It causes sedation or euphoria in 20-30 minutes.
According to The Alcohol Education Trust’s snap poll, figures have emerged that show 15% of females, 7% of males, and 17% of those identifying themselves as other have had their drinks spiked.
Helena Conibear was the CEO of The Alcohol Education Trust.
“This snap poll of young people confirms all the trends. One in eight young ladies has experienced spiking. It is happening as often at private events as it is at nighttime. Most people don’t report spiking as they fear they will not believe them, are unsure about what happened or feel it was too late.
She stated that despite the fact that 50% of cases of drink-spiking were reported, they weren’t investigated further. This is perhaps not surprising. If we are going to tackle drink spiking we ask everyone to please report it to the venue, police or go to A&E.
“Try to keep the drink as evidence, and ask for a urine or blood test. If anyone thinks it is a joke that someone spikes their drink, we can remind them that it’s a serious criminal offence and can result in a 10 year sentence.