Photo: Fabric/Press
One of London's last great nightclubs Fabric is being threatened with closure after police called for a review of its license.
As Fact (via the Islington Gazette) reports, four people have died following ecstasy use in the club in the last three years. A further four have collapsed. Given the venue holds 1600 a night, these numbers may appear small but the police are “seriously consider[ing] revoking the club’s license."
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 singled out one incident where an 18-year old girl died, claiming that it could “seriously frustrate a criminal investigation”.
The licensing committee are reviewing Fabric’s license tonight and the club are not offering any comment. According to the Gazette residents have been sending in letters for and against closure - including the perennial problem of new residents complaining about noise.
Even if Fabric does survive, as Fact points out, additional security measures are likely to take place. These include ID scanning systems, drug dogs, CCTV and enforced searches.
Fabric has hosted over 4,0000 DJs and live acts since opening, including Daft Punk, John Peel, Chemical Brothers, Sasha, Carl Cox, Justice and literally hundreds of drum'n'bass DJs. a petition to renew the license has launched on change.org and has attracted over 2,000 signatures.
If Fabric is closed then it will join a long list of lamented clubs including Cable, Home, Turnmills,The Cross, The End, Canvas as well as recent venue closures Madame JoJos, 12 Bar and Buffalo Bar.
