Fabric, one of the most iconic nightclubs in London, shut its doors indefinitely last month following the drug deaths of two teenagers within two months. After a single license hearing at the Islington Town Hall the license suspension was upheld and just like that one of the world’s most famous nightclubs was closed in a flash.
Fabric released a statement today expressing their disappointment with the ruling, which came after a six-hour examination of the nightclub, and also thanking their fans and patrons throughout the years.
The club was seemingly shut down due to the deaths stemming from drug usage – a problem that exists outside of Fabric and remains 120% out of the club’s control – yet new documents provided by The Independent paint a difference picture. For those interested in the specifics discussed in the six-hour long debate, head on to Mixmag to read their recap.
According to The Independent, “newly released council documents show that Fabric’s closure was a long pre-planned event, orchestrated by a cash-strapped council, using the police as pawns.” They add that an undercover police operation undertaken in July 2016 revealed nothing nefarious about the club while revealing that the real reason that the nightclub was shut down was due to budget cuts by the Islington council rendering it unable to fill security obligations including sniffer dogs (best reserved for crossing international borders or airports), put into place after an earlier spate of drug deaths from 2011-2014.
The budget cuts also resulted in the government having to scale-down public services – including the police force. The Islington council issued a statement in rebuttal.
“The decision of Islington Council’s licensing committee on Fabric’s licence was based solely on the evidence, submissions, and representations put before the committee. To suggest anything else is simply wrong. For the avoidance of doubt, Islington Council is not the owner of the building and has no financial interest in the site.”
Either way as of now the nightclub is closed, but NTIA chairman Alan Miller isn’t giving up yet. He’s issued a statement and launched an initiative Fund for Fabric dedicated to keeping the iconic nightclub alive.
“If it wasn’t for places like Fabric, we’d have none of our culture: it’s where we get inspired, where we fall in love,” Miller said to a saddened, but undefeated crowd. “I’m calling to all of Britain to [come together] with the NTIA. This is not the last word.”
H/T: Mixmag / Mixmag / The Independent