The Lion & Lamb cancels events and severs ties with co-founder Andre King amid abuse allegations

Content Warning: This article includes accounts of abuse and may be distressing for some readers.

The Lion & Lamb is cutting ties with its co-founder Andre King, amid a wave of abuse allegations.

The East London pub and music venue has issued a statement following multiple accounts of abuse and coercion being made against King, many from people claiming to have previously worked at or frequented the Hoxton venue.  

A statement signed off from the "L&L Team" shared via Instagram yesterday (July 6) said the venue would be "ensuring that proper legal and internal investigations take place to ensure accountability and justice is brought forward." 

"We want to make it explicitly clear that the L&L team will not continue in any business relationships with Andre King in any capacity," the statement continues, adding that they are "looking into the legal side now to ensure everything possible is done to save the space without his future involvement." 

"For the next few weeks, events are being cancelled until we can work out the next steps effectively to ensure any future opening of the pub doors has no connection to Andre King whatsoever." 

Many of the allegations against King have been shared via Reddit and Instagram page @exposingandreking, which has called on victims and anyone with information on King to file a report with the Metropolitan Police. 

The Instagram page has also urged others to contact local officials, including MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Diane Abbott and Hackney Mayor Zoe Garbett, and has set up a group for victims to share their stories, which can be sent via DM. 

There have been various reports around King being investigated by the Metropolitan Police. Mixmag reached out for comment and was told by a Met Police representative: "We do not comment on queries which identify individuals pre-charge."

On Saturday (July 4), graffiti reading "nonce" appeared outside of the Lion and Lamb. This appears to have been removed at some point since then, with another set of graffiti reading "rapist" now in its place. 

The Lion & Lamb's co-owner, Mauro Ferno, also shared a statement via Instagram yesterday, writing: "The allegations against my business partner Andre King this weekend have absolutely disgusted me." 

"I want to be absolutely clear, I totally condemn abuse, manipulation, and any form of predatory behaviour," he continues. "I send my support and stand in solidarity with any victims and those described in Reddit/@exposedandreking." 

"My primary concern is with the victims and I want to ensure they know that they have the full support of the venue and I in raising their allegations/taking legal steps to formal complaints." 

Mixmag has contacted representatives for The Lion & Lamb for comment.

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Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, get in touch with her here