Fabric nightclub set to close after licence revoked

07 September 2016 by
Fabric nightclub set to close after licence revoked

London's Fabric nightclub is set to close after its licence was revoked.

The move came after police concerns over drug use at the club. Six people have died from suspected drug overdoses since 2011.

Last month the nightclub, in Farringdon, closed temporarily after the Metropolitan Police applied to Islington Council for the licence to be reviewed. The police cited "concerns about serious crime" associated with Fabric, according to ITV News.

Despite a petition to keep the club open, which received almost 150,000 signatures, Islington Council decided to revoke the licence.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police felt the need to act due to concerns about the safety of those attending the club due to the supply of class A drugs in the venue and the recent deaths of two young men linked to the club.

"We support this decision made by Islington Council's licensing committee.

"London has a world-renowned night-time economy and people should be able to enjoy it safely, without concerns of serious crime. The Met is committed to working in partnership with those responsible for this sector to ensure that this happens."

Responding to the news, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has warned that local authorities need to work more closely with the sector, or risk further venue closures.

ALMR chief executive Kate Nicholls said: "We are very disappointed with Islington Council's decision and we are sorry to lose a leading ALMR member and one of the UK's most innovative, popular and lauded nightclubs.

"Management at the club were acutely aware of their responsibilities and had practices in place to ensure the safety of their customers, as highlighted by Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry, who was happy with the club's best practice. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called for a ‘common sense' solution, which is exactly the kind of working relationship the licensed hospitality sector is trying to foster, and exactly what we did not get from Islington Council.

"The ALMR has been a vocal champion of the UK's late-night economy and we believe that nightclubs such as Fabric are not just crucial economic drivers, but an integral part of the country's social zeitgeist. Both local and national authorities need to work closely with the sector, not fight against it, or we risk losing more venues and doing irreparable damage to the UK's music culture."

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