Forum Birmingham reopens following death of 22-year-old man

Forum Birmingham has announced that it will reopen for the first time since the death of an attendee in October.

Birmingham City Council shuttered the 3,500-capacity venue amid investigations into the death of a 22-year-old man, who became unwell while attending a DnB Allstars Halloween 360° Halloween party on October 25.

Two 20-year-old men were also taken to hospital after falling ill at the event, but have since been discharged from hospital. According to Birmingham Live, West Midlands Police have charged 20-year-old Bradley Kay from Leicestershire with supply of Class A substances — he appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court in October.

Following a license hearing, councillors and West Midlands Police have now given the green light for the venue to reopen fully — though as Birmingham Live reports, the venue had been permitted to throw four "low-risk events" through November, under the condition staff be given drug awareness training.

While the venue is now been permitted to open at full capacity, Forum will have to adhere to a slew of new license stipulations — these include having drug detection dogs at "high-risk" events, regular patrols of the venue and that all staff/DJs/promoters will need to be searched and/or risk assessed before entering the club.

In a statement released yesterday (November 26) Forum Birmingham said: “Following the conclusion of the licence review process with Birmingham City Council, we are pleased to return to normal operations with immediate effect.

"The welfare of everyone attending Forum Birmingham is at the centre of everything we do," the statement continues. "We appreciate the constructive engagement of West Midlands Police and the licensing authority to build on the range of measures we employ, as appropriate to each event."

"We ask that all our patrons join us in minimising the risk of harm from drugs by respecting our policies and enjoying themselves safely.”

Since October there have been a number of reports concerning the circulation of high-strength ecstasy pills, including "multiple hospitalisations" across London in October — resulting in harm reduction and drug testing charity The Loopissuing a warning over several batches of pills.

If you are planning to take an ecstasy pill, please take a read over Mixmag's guide on how to protect yourself from super-stregnth mdma.

You can also check out an info-graphic issued by The Loop below.

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter