Clubs are brilliant, clubs are disgusting, clubs are huge and small and for thousands, millions of people, they’re a fundamental part of growing up. They’re also the birthplace of every single decent movement of dance music, where DJs can test the waters on new tracks and new acts can hone their skills. Also, London is fast running out of places where young people, the sorts who imbue the city with exactly the sort of exciting dynamism that estate agents cite to new buyers when selling glossy new high rises, can go to meet, relax and enjoy themselves.
Fabric is the latest of those places, as it has been forced to close after having its license revoked. The decision to remove the license for the club, which has entertained the masses since 1999, was made late last night at a meeting between the Metropolitan Police, Islington Council and Fabric. Security around drugs was a focal issue as were the allegedly drug-related deaths of two 19-year-old men who had attended the club.
'Culture of drugs' deemed 'out of control'
During the meeting, one councillor suggested that the music in the club be kept under a certain BPM in order to avoid more deaths. After six hours of debate and review, reports MixMag, the licensing sub-committee decided that Fabric’s drug control attempts weren’t good enough. Chair of the licensing sub-committee, Flora Williamson, said that: ‘There is a culture of drugs at fabric which management cannot control.’
The consequences? Well, as well as sharing their #FabricMemories on social media, people who love music and love Fabric and love what London was are talking about the many contradictions at play; drug use has been discovered everywhere from the Royal Enclosure at Ascot to swanky despot-owned hotel The Dorchester to the Houses of Parliament. But none of those places are closing anytime soon. Plus, this:
Property development deal?
An investigation from The Independent’s has found that there was a long-running operation into Fabric, called Operation Lenor (like the fabric softener, what lols!) and claims now, that this operation, which was cited by the licensing subcommittee’s decision, showed no actual evidence of drug-taking at Fabric. They did see people 'manifesting symptoms showing that they were (on drugs). This included sweating, glazed red eyes and staring into space'. But no hard evidence. The implication is that Islington Council - which is very strapped for cash - was just waiting for an opportunity to oust the club so it could sell the land to property developers keen for a prized piece of square footage in a rapidly gentrifying area.
Fabric’s statement in response to the decision to revoke the license, read, reports FACT: ‘fabric is extremely disappointed with Islington Council's decision to revoke our license. This is an especially sad day for those who have supported us, particularly the 250 staff who will now lose their jobs.
‘Closing fabric is not the answer to the drug-related problems. Clubs like ours are working to prevent, and sets a troubling precedent for the future of London's night time economy.’
Could Fabric be saved?
Sadiq Khan, who recently put out an advert for a Night Czar, and introduced the long-awaited Night Tube, said he is: ‘disappointed’ in the indefinite closure of Fabric, and that: ‘Over the past eight years, London has lost 50 percent of its nightclubs and 40 percent of its live music venues. This decline must stop if London is to retain its status as a 24-hour city with a world-class nightlife.
‘I am in the process of appointing a Night Czar who will bring together key stakeholders including club and venue owners, local authorities, the Metropolitan Police and members of the public. No single organisation or public body can solve these problems alone – we all need to work together to ensure London thrives as a 24-hour city, in a way that is safe and enjoyable for everyone.’
Could the Night Czar be the one to save Fabric? If not, DJs, entertainers and ravers are set to club together (sorry) to create a fund to appeal the decision. Alan Miller, Chair of the Nightlife Industries Association, said that the group will start the Fund For Fabric in due course. Meanwhile, it’s just a fantastic thing that a club has been shut - everyone knows that people who can’t go to clubs, where they can be educated on drugs and treated should they fall ill, stay at home drinking pots of tea instead. Right?
Like this? You might also be interested in:
It's Not Just The UK. Clubs All Over Europe Are Closing Down
The Night Tube Finally Arrives, Just As London's Nightlife Is Dying Out
Follow Sophie on Twitter @sophwilkinson
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.