Les Bobards music venue faces new threat of closure

The Plateau-Mont-Royal bar that got slapped with a hefty fine back in October for having live music is once again fighting the borough.

Les Bobards received a$1,250 fineduring a performance of the KalmunityVibe Collective after a noise complaint. Band memberVincent Stephen-Ongstarted an online campaign to Save the Plateau following the incident, but the borough hasn't changed its mind.

• Montreal musician lobbies to 'Save the Plateau' after $1,250 fine

We received a letter from the city just yesterday, says bar manager and booker Rabah Mammouche.

The letter basically says that our certificate of occupancy doesnt allow us to ask for a cover charge, doesnt allow us to have a dance floor, to advertise a lineup of shows and doesnt allow us to have a proper stage set up for live bands. So basically it means no live music and no DJs at Bobards, Mammouche continues.

He says it may be related to the fine they got, but notes that there have been no additional encounters with the police since October.

Mammouche says he doesnt understand what the problem is. The bar has been operating as a venue since 1995, once they got a permit from the Rgie des alcools, des courses et des jeux to open.

Prior to getting this licence the Rgie notified the city and the city had 30 days to oppose the deliverance of that licence. They did not, he says.

As a bar that has live music or DJs on each of the six nights its, Les Bobards will likely have to close if it is no longer permitted to have either.

Were going to have to fight the city, Mammouche says.