London clubbing institution Fabric is reportedly facing closure after police called for a review of its license.
According to the Islington Gazette – ITV and the Evening Standard are also running with the story – police made the move after an MDMA-related death in September. Officers claim that eight people have collapsed from ecstasy use in the last three years at Fabric, four of whom later died, and they are “seriously consider[ing] revoking the club’s license.
In a report, Ch Supt Steve Deehan said: “Immaturity of lifestyle of the patrons leads to them becoming actively involved in the taking of illegal drugs and this could account for the disproportionate and wholly unacceptable number of deaths and near death incidents at the venue.”
Deehan then criticised the club for allegedly not informing police about September’s death, an 18-year old girl, claiming that it could “seriously frustrate a criminal investigation”.
The licensing committee are reviewing Fabric’s license tonight, the club will not comment on the story until then.
Update #1: There’s already a Save Fabric Facebook group doing the rounds, however, looking at the council documents, it appears that a likely conclusion to tonight’s meeting is heightened security at Fabric rather than full closure.
As pointed out by Ed Gillett, the document includes a list of recommended security measures, including “ID scanning system to be installed and operated at the venue during all hours of operation”, “drug dogs to be used for at least 50% of the hours of operation”, “CCTV shall be installed/operated/maintained in agreement with police” and “nobody admitted without searches”. You can read the full document here.
Fabric opened in 1999, and is one of the world’s most famous and well-respected clubs. It operates two in-house record labels, Fabric – which has traditionally focused on the Fabric and Fabric.live mix-CD series – and the more artist-driven Houndstooth, home of Call Super and more.
If Fabric has its license revoked, it caps a bad two years for London clubbing: last May, South London’s Cable announced that they were closing with immediate effect due to redevelopment to London Bridge train station.
Update #2: Fabric has responded: “Regardless of the outcome of tonight’s decision we will be open this weekend and in the immediate future.” Read the full statement.
