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Fabric Loses License
Christian Eede , September 7th, 2016 11:04

London club's license had been placed under review following recent drug-related deaths

The team behind London's fabric has released a statement after its license was revoked last night at an Islington Council hearing.

The statement reads: "fabric is extremely disappointed with Islington Council's decision to revoke our license. This is an especially sad day for those who have supported us, particularly the 250 staff who will now lose their jobs. Closing fabric is not the answer to the drug-related problems clubs like ours are working to prevent, and sets a troubling precedent for the future of London's night time economy."

They also thanked the 140,000 people who signed a petition to save the club in the run-up to last night's six-hour hearing. The club's license was placed under review after the drug-related deaths of two 18-year-old men in recent months with the club's doors having been closed since August 12.

London mayor Sadiq Khan, who ran for office on a promise to attempt to quell the decline of London's nightlife has also released a statement expressing his disappointment at the decision. He also says that "issues faced by fabric point to a wider problem of how we protect London’s night-time economy" citing statistics including the closure of around half of London's night-time venues in the past few years. This decline, he concludes, "must stop" if London is to be a 24-hour city.

fabric was accused of being tolerant of drug use and faced accusations that it had not done enough to stop the use of drugs in the club or help those who appeared to have used drugs at the club. "A culture of drugs exists at the club which the existing management and security appear incapable of controlling," claimed subcommittee chair Flora Williamson while making the decision. "This subcommittee has considered adding further conditions, but has come to the conclusion that this would not address the serious concern that they have with management of the premises."