Heaven nightclub loses appeal to reopen after licence suspended for 28 days

WARNING: This article includes accounts of sexual violence which may be distressing for some readers.

Heaven nightclub has lost an appeal to reopen after its licence was suspended for 28 days last Friday (November 15), following the arrest of a security guard charged with rape.

During a sub-committee hearing held on Tuesday (November 19), the venue's owner, Jeremy Joseph, argued to Westminster City Council that the police’s characterisation of Heaven as the West End's "highest crime generator" was unfair due to its size and popularity (via The London Standard).

These comments followed reports presented by the Metropolitan police to the council that 109 incidents had been recorded at the club since May, including sexual assaults, grievous bodily harm, public order, phone thefts and pickpocketing (many of these were reported by the club's staff).

Joseph later told The London Standard: “We are tackling the issue and increased reporting should be credited, not used against us.”

“In every meeting we have had with police licensing, they have said they are expecting us to have the highest figures because we are the largest capacity venue,” he added.

Heaven nightclub has a total capacity of 1,725 people.

Former Heaven security guard, Morenikeji Adewole (47) was arrested and charged with the rape of an 18-year-old woman last Wednesday (November 13). He is currently on remand in prison.

The incident allegedly happened in the vicinity of the venue in the early hours of November 1, and other staff members allegedly ignored the woman's efforts to report the attack, according to the Metropolitan police.

At the hearing, Joseph said he was "really devastated" by the alleged crime and that he had since fired Heaven's head of security and hired a new team of door staff.

However, a Westminster City Council spokesman told The London Standard : “Having considered further evidence from both the police and the club management, the council’s licensing committee has decided to continue the suspension of Heaven’s licence.”

This means that the legendary LGBTQI+ venue will be shut until a full licensing hearing in December, when Joseph and the police will have the opportunity to present more evidence.

According to the BBC, Joseph has expressed concerns that the venue “will not survive” the period, saying that Heaven is already “fighting for its life”.

In February this year, Jospeh reported that the popular nightclub's landlords had increased its rent by £320,000 a year, putting the venue's future at risk.

Just two months before that, Joseph was forced to close G-A-Y Late, another LGBTQI+ venue he founded.

Photo taken from Khroma Collective’s Let Us Dance project

Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram