Fabric to reopen: deal agreed to resurrect iconic club

Islington Borough Council and the Farringdon club’s owners Fabric Life struck a deal today (21 November) that will see Fabric open its doors to the public once more. 

A joint statement from Islington Borough Council and Fabric Life said: "Fabric is committed to doing all it reasonably can to ensure that no more of its clubbers come to drug-related harm.

"It also recognises that there needs to be, and will be, changes to its management structure and accountability." 

The club was closed and had its licence revoked when two teenagers died drug-related deaths.

However, a petition to reopen the club was launched soon after and attracted more than 150,000 supporters. 

New licensing conditions​

The deal is based on new licensing conditions that include the instant barring for life of any guest caught trying to buy or supply drugs, expansive CCTV monitoring of the premises and the implementation of ID scanners.

Furthermore, under-19s will not be allowed to enter many of the club’s 'core' nights.

The owners also agreed to make physical changes to the club and enhance searching procedures on the door.

The statement continued: "In the light of Fabric’s acceptance that there have been failings, and given the commitment that its directors and management have shown by their development of the operations manual and acceptance of these new conditions, the authority is now satisfied that the statutory licensing objectives may be met short of revocation of the premises licence.

"It is for these reasons that it has decided not to oppose Fabric’s appeal. Fabric Life will pay Islington’s costs in these proceedings directly and not from the monies pledged by supporters."

@fabriclondon I lost my brother to a drug overdose in a club.My dad & I are lobbying to #SaveFabric#saveourculture here's our letter pic.twitter.com/RD4pIqB5fL

— Nathalie Wainwright (@little_weasel1) September 27, 2016

Nightclub closures​

Roughly half of London’s nightclubs and 40% of its music venues are estimated to have closed since 2008.

Since his inauguration as Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has moved to revive the capital’s ailing night-time industry by appointing Amy Lamé, former Mayoress of Camden, as the city’s first ‘Night Czar’.​

Her remit will involve working with operators and the authorities to protect and support London’s night-time industry.

She said: “For too long, the capital’s night-time industry has been under pressure – music venues and nightclubs in particular are closing at an alarming rate.”

Industry response to her appointment was largely positive, with both the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) and British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) stressing the importance of her role and its objectives.