The #SaveFabric petition has reached 100,000 names

The petition to save fabric from closure has reached 100,000 names.

It was started by one of the club's resident DJs, Jacob Husley, and addressed to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan as well as Islington Borough Council. Earlier this week Khan responded with an official letter and DJs such as Sasha have been keeping the #SaveFabric campaign in the headlines by making passionate, high profile statements of their own.

The landmark comes a week before Islington Council reviews fabric's licence at a meeting on September 6. It will decide whether the club can re-open following two drug-related deaths at the venue earlier this summer.

Along with the petition, fabric has today bolstered its defence by issuing an official statement in which it has outlined a "gold standard" of operating that will come into play if it is allowed to re-open.

Currently, the club is seen as a model of best practice in the industry and by Islington police (who have referred at least one other venue to fabric to learn about its practice). But, if given the green light to re-open, its founders have promised to create a new industry standard in security searches as well as work with drugs charity The Loop and local police to continually review its operations. It will also develop industry-leading training for its staff in how to tackle drug taking and dealing.

Cameron Leslie, Director and Co-Founder of fabric, also used the statement to speak about the safety measures the club has always taken as well as its importance to the London clubbing landscape: “The safety of our customers has always been our number one priority. Any suggestion that we are not 100 per cent committed to tackling drugs on the premises is completely false. We were pioneering in the way in which we worked hand-in-hand with the council and police when we opened 17 years ago. We established honest and transparent procedures never before seen, something we are incredibly proud of.

“Closing fabric will be the beginning of the end for clubbing in London, which is already under threat. In light of recent tragic events, we’re independently reviewing all our processes and have already proposed substantial changes to the police and to Islington Council – our aim is to set a new industry gold standard for safe clubbing.

“Venues like fabric face huge challenges in tackling drugs but as an experienced operator, with a strong track record and which is willing to invest, we are best placed to pioneer new ways of working that will keep people safer. We hope the council and the police will support these efforts on the 6th and allow us to remain open.”

More news when we have it.

Seb Wheeler is Mixmag's Digital Editor. Follow him on Twitter