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News
London club Fabric to permanently close
One of the UK’s most popular nightclubs is to close after its licence was revoked following the deaths of two teenagers.
London’s Fabric nightclub is to close permanently
Islington Council debated the decision until the early hours of this morning (7 September), and took the decision to permanently close London’s Fabric nightclub citing the “culture of drugs” at the club.
The venue was already subject to a 28-day licence suspension put in place after the two 18-year-olds died this summer after taking the drug MDMA.
An online petition signed by more than 150,000 people including prominent DJs, had called for the club to reopen.
The decision is expected to have a significant impact on the nightlife industry both in London and across the UK.
In a statement, Islington Council said: “Islington Council’s licensing sub-committee heard evidence that both 18-year-olds who died this summer had taken MDMA in Fabric, and had bought the drugs in Fabric.
“The sub-committee also heard evidence that on both occasions the young men who died and their friends were able to conceal drugs on their person and get through the search and entry system, and that people entering the club were inadequately searched.
“In light of all the circumstances, the sub-committee decided that revocation was both appropriate and proportionate.”
London mayor Sadiq Kahn said he was “disappointed” by the decision.
“Clubbing needs to be safe but I’m disappointed that Fabric, Islington Council and the Metropolitan Police were unable to reach agreement on how to address concerns about public safety,” he said.
“As a result of this decision, thousands of people who enjoyed going to Fabric as an essential part of London’s nightlife will lose out.
“The issues faced by Fabric point to a wider problem of how we protect London’s night-time economy, while ensuring it is safe and enjoyable for everyone.
“Over the past eight years, London has lost 50 percent of its nightclubs and 40 percent of its live music venues. This decline must stop if London is to retain its status as a 24-hour city with a world-class nightlife.”
The chair of the Night Time Industries Association, Alan Miller, said he would start a grassroots fund to help save the club.
In a statement released in August, Miller said nightclubs should not be punished for drug use, noting that even prisons with maximum security levels still see some drug use.