Fabric has been saved. The famed London nightclub has won its appeal and will reopen. The news was announced by Fabric on their Facebook and has been hailed as a great victory by DJs and even the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
The move was approved by Highbury Magistrate Court, which means the appeal date that was set for Nov. 28 will no longer go ahead.
In a statement on Facebook, Fabric thanked everyone who has flocked to the cause of saving the club. "We are hugely thankful to be able to confirm the news that we have won our license back. We owe everything to our supporters. We really would not be here today without your unparalleled support and generosity," wrote the club. "You saved Fabric."
In a statement released today via Resident Advisor, Fabric has agreed to various new rules that it has to live under going forward to stay open. According to the statement, "Fabric is committed to doing all it reasonably can to ensure that no more of its clubbers come to drug-related harm." Also there will be changes to the management of the club.
According to the statement, Fabric will have to adhere to some new regulations. Some of them are more straightforward like "life-time bans for anyone trying to buy drugs in the club," a new security company, a ban on individuals under 19 years old and new I.D. scanning system. Some are more vague could make things more big brother like "covert surveillance within the club" or "enhanced searching procedures and controls."
Sadiq Khan, who has been a vocal advocate for nightlife in London and for the club to stay open, released a statement in favor of the ruling.
"I am delighted that this agreement has been reached and that fabric will now reopen," said Khan in a statement via Mixmag. "I have always said that we needed to find a common-sense solution that protects both the future of fabric and the safety of all clubbers - as this does. I especially want to thank Islington Council for working so hard to come to this solution."
Fabric had its license suspended on Aug. 12 after a sub-committee ruled after hearing from the police. Two teenagers had died within six weeks of each other from effects of drugs after nights out at the club.
On Sept. 6, after a lengthy public appeal hearing, the sub-committee decided to revoke Fabric's license. Since then, hundreds of thousands of pounds had been raised for the appeals process and it became a global movement to try and get the club back open.
DJs such as Annie Mac, Disclosure, Goldie, Joseph Capriati, Jon Hopkins and Benji B have all been celebrating the news on social media.
There is no set date for when the club will reopen, but it may take some time to get up to date with the new regulations. It won't want to wait too long or else it might miss out on the busy and lucrative holiday season in London.
