London Club Fabric Saved From Closure; Owners Appealing Terms

Legendary London club Fabric has been saved from closure after its license was put up for a snap renewal review in front of the local Islington Council. This was done at the request of local police who were becoming increasingly concerned at a recent spate of drug-related deaths and hospitalizations stemming from clubbers at the venue. Four people have died in the past three years. The council voted to renew the license, but only if the club agreed to several very stringent terms that include drug sniffing dogs and ID scans.

As part of the new measures agreed upon by the Fabric owners, the club will have to hire seven private, drug-sniffing dogs to check clubbers for drugs at entry. Each handler and dog will operate on four-hour shifts. The club stays open for sometimes 12 hours at a time, thus the additional £300 ($469) a night fee per dog could become pretty onerous for the club, which is not a bottles and models type of establishment. There will also be mandatory ID scans for every clubber who would like to gain entry to the club.

Club founders Cameron Leslier and Keith Reilley say they will be appealing the decision.

Leslie told the Evening Standard, "We'll be appealing. We need to see their written reasons, but we fundamentally disagree on a number of key points."

Mr. Reilley pointed out the record Fabric has had over its 15-year tenure, and much of the problem is a British one, not just a Fabric problem,

"In 15 years we have had six million people come through the doors and sadly there have been four deaths.

"We do everything we can to stop people taking drugs in the club. What's happened recently is this country is awash with drugs.

"There's been a large batch of MDMA that's got more powerful and has caught the kids out."

Fabric just celebrated its 15-year anniversary this past year and plays host to some of the biggest house and techno DJs in the world. The decision means that it will continue to operate as normal, but with the added conditions attached.

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