The UK music community was crushed yesterday at the news that the Islington Council in central London permanently revoked iconic London nightclub Fabric's license. The club is now appealing the decision.
The council concluded after a nearly six-hour session that the club has a "culture of dug use" and the staff and security were "incapable of controlling" of controlling the flow of drugs into the club. The license review was brought about because two individuals had died in the past nine weeks of drug related deaths after attending Fabric.
The council based a lot of their decision on an undercover police sting that unusually targeted the club and not drug dealers within the club. It outlined an atmosphere with vague observations where they said they could hear people asking for drugs while security did nothing and people had red eyes. Everyone seemed calm and friendly though. One member of the council also recommended the club play slower BPM music to discourage drug use.
The decision has been met with harsh criticism from individuals all across music and some politicians. London mayor Sadiq Khan who put his support behind the club said he was "disappointed" in the decision. MBE British DJ Goldie said he might melt down his honor in protest.
To appeal the decision, Night Time Industries Association is looking to set up a £500,000 Fund For Fabric war chest to pay for legal fees in this uphill battle. The council decision was not unanimous, which gives them some hope.
NTIA Deputy Chair said to Mixmag the money would "keep fabric going until the appeal and make sure that we have the best QC [senior lawyer] in the world working for us and winning this case, which we will do."
This process will probably take some time to resolve itself.
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