Licensing: Prevention of Crime and Disorder Objective: London Nightclub Loses its Licence
2019
It has been reported that an exclusive nightclub in London has lost its licence after serious crime and disorder issues.
Opium Nightclub, the winner of a “Luxury Lifestyle Award” in the category of Best Luxury Nightclub (London 2019) re-opened in December 2018 following a £7 million pound refurbishment.
The club in Rupert Street, Soho, hosted a promoted event on 25th August 2019 at which the police investigated a stabbing and a shooting.
The Metropolitan Police had swiftly brought summary review proceedings and the licence was suspended as an interim step.
At a full review hearing on the 23rd September 2019 before Westminster City Council Licensing Committee, the licence was revoked.
This followed what the police had presented as “a catalogue of breaches” of the licence conditions, cumulating and resulting in the serious incidents in August. The police maintained that those incidents were entirely preventable had proper search procedures and other protocols been followed.
Councillor Ian Adams, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Licensing said:
“Our top priority is to make sure everyone visiting the West End to enjoy a night out is safe. Based on the evidence outlining serious breaches of their licence conditions, the most appropriate and proportionate course of action was to revoke this premise’s licence with immediate effect.”
The company has 21 days to appeal the decision.
Should you find your premises subject to review proceedings, or require advice upon Appeal contact our specialist team on 0114 266 8664.