Households close to a bar notorious for noise and violence are opposing a bid by the owners for it to be officially recognised as a nightclub.

In September 2014, Luxe in Loughton High Road was refused permission to operate as a nightclub despite already promoting itself as one.

Luxe have now appealed the decision.

If unsuccessful, Luxe could be subject to restrictions on dancing and its entry policy.

Failure to comply would be a criminal offence, with the possibility of legal action by Epping Forest District Council.

David Linnell, of the Loughton Residents’ Association, claimed many people “are fed up to the teeth” with noise, fighting, and drug use associated with the club, in High Road.

He said: “Our view is that Loughton High Road is a residential area.

“We would like to see it return to a pub and during the day we would like to see it open.

"At the moment it is a dead area in the middle of the area.

“The key thing is anything after midnight is bound to be disturbing residents when it closes.”

Luxe, which opens until 3am at weekends, has been linked to a number of serious incidents including a 150-person brawl in 2011, a suspected homophobic attack in 2012 and a man’s face being fractured so badly he could not talk to police.

Stephanie Moody, 55, of Smart’s Lane, said she had phoned the police because of fighting as recently as Saturday (March 21).

She said: “Obviously it is worse in the summer, but it is a nightmare.

“Howling, bibbing their horns at the bottom, screaming up and down the road on their phones.

“We are actually seriously considering moving because of it, every weekend, Friday and Saturday.

“It is disturbing us.

“I have gotten to the point now where every time I am going to ring the police.”

When contacted about the ongoing appeal process, a manager at Luxe, who refused to give his name, said: “We are not a night club and we never had a night club, we are a late night bar and our license states we are a late night bar.”

However, the venue's official website advertises “two floors of ‘clubbing heaven’”, and its Facebook page promotes “Stunning decor, sexy VIP lounge and beautiful people make LuXe the most exclusive club in Essex."

It also invited customers to “join the elite crowd and party the ‘Essex way’ with the glamorous girls and eligible boys of LuXe.”