Last night the Islington town council ruled to permanently revoke the license of iconic London club Fabric. The club's license has been suspended over the past 28 days pending further review after the death of an 18 year old who had been at Fabric that night. Citing security concerns and a "culture of drugs" at the venue, the council revoked their license. The DJ world is now mourning the loss of one of its iconic dance floors that served as a mecca for clubbers over the past two decades.
Since its founding in 1999, the club has been one of the bright spots in a declining London and UK nightclub scene where many nightlife establishments have closed for various reasons and turned into luxury condominiums. Two individuals died over the past nine weeks, triggering the recent investigation and now closure. A previous review in 2014 proved Fabric to be in good standing.
According to the council decision, "people entering the club were inadequately searched."
In an investigation done by police over the summer, they suggest that people were buying and taking drugs in the venue.
"Staff intervention and security was grossly inadequate in light of the overwhelming evidence that it was abundantly obvious that patrons in the club were on drugs and manifesting symptoms showing that they were.
"This included sweating, glazed red eyes and staring into space, and people asking for help."
However the undercover police operation for which the Islington Council based much of its findings can be found wanting. The documents obtained by The Independent show the police targeting the club, not drug dealers inside, an unusual step, and included vague observations, not concrete evidence.
They also wrote, "the general atmosphere of the club was friendly and non-threatening," which never made it into the final council report.
A change.org petition had garnered over 150,000 votes by the time the council had deliberated and support had come in from musicians from all over the world. Sadiq Khan, London's newly elected mayor and self-proclaimed friend of nightlife had put his tentative support behind the club. Before the hearing he said at the end of the day, this was a local issue - politics.
After the decision came down, he expressed his disappointment in a statement via Mixmag.
"The issues faced by Fabric point to a wider problem of how we protect London's night-time economy, while ensuring it is safe and enjoyable for everyone. Over the past eight years, London has lost 50 percent of its nightclubs and 40 percent of its live music venues," he said in a statement. "This decline must stop if London is to retain its status as a 24-hour city with a world-class nightlife."
DJs expressed their heartbreak and anger at the council's decision to close the club.
Pure sadness about Fabric. London is being ruined right now.
— Four Tet (@FourTet) September 7, 2016
They've taken Fabric from us. — Jme (@JmeBBK) September 7, 2016
I can't believe they've revoked @fabriclondon's license. Is this the future for it? #Haçienda #FabricReview pic.twitter.com/QBQPIVFLY0 — mistajam (@mistajam) September 7, 2016
I had some drugs I was going to take on Sat at Fabric, but now it is closed so I will throw them down the toilet and never take drugs again — Jon Hopkins (@Jon_Hopkins_) September 7, 2016
So 150,000 voices can't even be heard. We had no chance. #fabricreview — Friction (@friction) September 7, 2016
So sad about Fabric closing. Earliest clubbing memories and such an important club for london. #fabricreview
— Jessie Ware (@JessieWare) September 7, 2016
It is a sad day when a music institution like this closes, but the council and police insist it was for the safety of citizens, not to cut costs on policing. Now all of these gigs will go to dodgy warehouses around London. The wider drug problem the police can't police just moves elsewhere.
