London’s best-known gay nightclub has dodged being permanently closed after an alleged rape by a security guard on a drunk 18-year-old customer.
Heaven’s licence was suspended last month after the November 1 incident, and it had faced the prospect of permanent closure at a hearing on Friday.
But councillors decided to allow the Charing Cross venue to reopen and lift the suspension as long as strict new conditions, including a ‘last entry’ of 3am, a ban on queue drinking and revamped security, were followed.
Delivering the decision Westminster councillor Maggie Carman agreed with the Met Police that Heaven was “associated with serious crime” and said “the horrific and traumatic incident suffered by the victim” had been at the front of the committee’s minds.
She added: “There has been clear evidence of a change in the general management of the premises. The premises licence holder has also been working in partnership with the Met Police.
“The conditions agreed between the Met Police and the premises licence holder provide a turning point for a venue which provides an important service to everyone, in particular the LGBTQIA+ community. The committee recognises the iconic nature of this premises.”
Westminster City Council heard how the victim of the alleged rape was removed from the club’s “very long queue” while she was drunk and then “preyed upon” by a bouncer.
“She was preyed upon by an individual who was employed as a door supervisor by the nightclub,” said lawyer Gary Grant, representing the Met Police.
“She had been waiting in that queue for some two hours before being removed and falling prey to the attack.
“After that allegation she was raped in a car by that door supervisor, she returned to the nightclub to report what had happened and she was told by the head of security to come back the next day.
“There was no report to the police.”
In another incident on May 7, three bouncers were seen filmed on camera beating up a customer on the floor in a “reprehensible” attack. All three were later fired.
The Met Police had said it did not want the venue to close despite the serious incidents, citing its importance to the LGBT+ community.
They have agreed to a slew of conditions on the club’s operation with the venue, which officers said was intended to protect “vulnerable” drunken customers being preyed on by “opportunist criminals” in the club’s queue.
These have been backed by councillors, allowing the venue to reopen
“The police recognise the importance of Heaven to the gay community in London and further afield. Police have never sought the permanent closure of this nightclub,” said Mr Grant.
“What the police have done unapologetically is sought to ensure that the sort of incidents which have led us here will not happen again and the sort of risks to the vulnerable people in that queue are reduced.”
The club said it was “appalled” by the alleged rape, adding that it would continue to work closely with police.
It said it had been “duped” by the bouncer’s use of a forged security licence, and that it had not been aware he was not registered.
“All involved in Heaven are appalled by what occurred and of course gave the police the fullest possible cooperation to bring the offender to justice,” said Phillip Kolvin KC, representing Heaven.
“It’s noted the offender has been arrested and of course Heaven will continue to assist as required in any process that may now follow.”
He added: “Heaven’s heart goes out to the victim of this offence. What happened to her goes contrary to absolutely everything Heaven stands for.”
