London mayor Sadiq Khan responds to Fabric closure

The Mayor of London has issued a statement following fabric's license being revoked.

Sadiq Khan, who has previously stated his desire to protect London's nightlife, has this morning expressed his disappointment at the result of last night's hearing at Islington Town Hall.

His statement reads: “London’s iconic clubs are an essential part of our cultural landscape. Clubbing needs to be safe but I’m disappointed that Fabric, Islington Council and the Metropolitan Police were unable to reach agreement on how to address concerns about public safety.

“As a result of this decision, thousands of people who enjoyed ‎going to Fabric as an essential part of London's nightlife will lose out. 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. This decline must stop if London is to retain its status as a 24-hour city with a world-class nightlife."

A job advert for a London Night Czar recently went online and Khan has again highlighted the importance of this role.

“I am in the process of appointing a Night Czar who will bring together key stakeholders including club and venue owners, local authorities, the Metropolitan Police and members of the public. No single organisation or public body can solve these problems alone – we all need to work together to ensure London thrives as a 24-hour city, in a way that is safe and enjoyable for everyone.”‎

Fabric also released a statement this morning, saying drug-related problems will not be solved through the closure of the Farringdon club.

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter