London venue Total Refreshment Centre has temporarily put gigs on hold after being served with a notice of closure by Hackney Council.
"As of this week we won’t be having events at TRC for a little while," reads a statement issued by the venue. "The council has issued us with a notice of closure. We will know more in the coming weeks, but for now we’re going to stay quiet.
"During this down time, we will need your help to keep the TRC ship afloat until better days come. Change is not always a bad thing, we’ll adapt and find news ways to connect with y’all. We’re still here, same spot, same people, same skills and network, same passion for music and culture."
The venue’s owners are keen to point out that the studio space within the building is still open. In a statement shared with Resident Advisor, they said: "At this time we will be refraining from further public comment on our conversations with Hackney Council. We are very keen to work with the council and all relevant authorities to make TRC the very best place that it can be. This is not a case of ‘Us’ versus ‘Them,’ rather that we must collaborate with them fully if we are to continue building this world. "
News of the venue’s closure began to spread after gig promoters Beauty & The Beat were forced to pull an event that they were due to host there on Saturday (June 23). "We are very sorry to have to tell you that Saturday’s party (at TRC) has been cancelled, because Total Refreshment Centre has been closed down by the council," read their statement.
Hackney Council have issued their own statement saying: "The premises is under investigation and has been issued with a closure notice for allegedly selling alcohol and playing music without the relevant licenses." Commenting further on Twitter, the council said: "We’ll speak to the venue owners and get our investigation completed as quickly as possible."
The venue has become a hub for London’s jazz scene in recent years, and has played host to a number of gigs including a tQ fundraiser last month which saw Vanishing Twin and Robert Sotelo Group play live.
You can read the venue’s full statement on its closure here.
