London club Heaven has had its license temporarily suspended after one of its security guards was charged with rape.
The famed LGBTQIA+ venue’s licence was suspended by Westminster Council for 28 days upon the recommendation of police after 47-year-old Morenikeji Adewole was charged with rape last Wednesday, November 13. The venue will remain closed pending a further hearing.
The council’s licensing committee was told by police that a woman was allegedly raped in the vicinity of the club in the early hours of Friday, November 1. Police additionally claim that other staff members reportedly ignored the woman’s attempts to report the attack. Adewole has been arrested and charged with rape, and is currently in prison on remand.
A Westminster Council spokesperson said: “A full licensing hearing will be held in December where both the police and venue management will have the opportunity to present new evidence. This case is currently subject of an ongoing police investigation and we are unable to comment further at this stage.”
Writing on Instagram, Heaven owner Jeremy Joseph said: “We can only send our thoughts to the alleged victim. Our priority is to put new procedures in place to make sure nothing like this happens again, and gain the confidence of Westminster Council as we move forward.”
Joseph added that he was “sickened” by the allegation, but could not comment further as it was subject to an ongoing police investigation.
