Photo: Facebook/Press
Following the shock closure of Madame Jojo's, it now appears that the club's fate was sealed back in 2013 when it was decided it was going to be demolished.
Lending credibility to the conspiracy theorists that suggest the draconcian response to one violent incident in October shouldn't have resulted closure, it emerged today that the nightclub had been earmarked for demolition many months before it was closed due to a violent incident.
According to the Guardian, plans submitted to Westminster council by Soho Estates had been approved in December 2013. They outlined plans that the site “currently occupied by Madame Jojo’s, will undergo extensive demolition and remodelling, involving the levelling of the floor plane, adjustment of the layout and improvement to access”.
As previously reported, the club was closed following an incident of "serious disorder" took place on 24 October and appears to feature bouncers alledgedly attacking a man with baseball bats.
Westminster council however, claims there is no relation between the decision to shut the club and the property development. The council said: “Planning and licensing decisions are governed under two entirely separate pieces of legislation, and planning applications have no bearing whatsoever on a licensing committee decision. These decisions are taken solely on the evidence relating to the issues and to the conditions of the licence. The police outlined serious concerns at the Brewer Street site and so we had to take action. This was based entirely on the level of violence involved, and not for any other reason. A large part of the business and residential community support our decision.”
They concluded "Westminster is rightly proud that Soho is now a safer area for people to live, work and play. It is not something we will apologise for.” It has also emerged that Soho Estates owns the rights to the name Madame Jojo's and they "hope to recreate the concept in the new development."
Supporters, including the team behind the long running indie club night Whtie Heat, have protested the closure. An e-petition gained over 6000 signatures and a Saturday afternoon vigil is planned.
When news of the venue's closure was made puiblic White Heat said in a statement: “We know a lot of you have been waiting to hear about what’s been going on with White Heat over the past few weeks. About a month ago our home of ten years, Madame Jojo’s, was shut down due to a serious incident of disorder outside. Yesterday the council decided to revoke the venue’s licence rendering us homeless and its staff, our friends, out of a job. "We’ve been forced to cancel all of our foreseeable shows at the venue and it’s probably going to be impossible to have one last hurrah at Jojo’s for old times sake.
White Heat has been renowned as having one of the most forward thinking booking policies of any London clubnight and featured Lorde's debut UK gig. The team behind White Heat are clearly hugely disappointed in the decision, commenting: "Over the ten years we've been there we've put a lot into how the venue looks and sounds to make it the best live experience possible and to try and be one of the best places to watch new bands in London. So it really is gutting to have to announce that White Heat at Madame Jojo's is no more."
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