Soho’s famed Groucho Club has been served with notice of a licence review after allegations that the venue has been associated with “serious crime”. As a result, the club has now temporarily closed.
A notice seen by the London Standard outside the club reveals that an application has been served on Westminster City Council by the Met “on the grounds that the premises have failed to uphold the prevention of crime and disorder.”
The Standard has also seen Metropolitan Police documents that show the Groucho has been noted for a licence review, though details as to the incident or incidents prompting the process are not shown.
A spokesperson for the Groucho said: “We have received an application to review our licence which we take very seriously.
“As a consequence, the club’s licence has been suspended by agreement with Westminster City Council, and we have made the decision to close the club pending a full hearing before Christmas.”
Responding to a request from the Standard, a council spokesperson said: “Following a request from the Metropolitan Police and with the agreement of the operator, the council’s licensing sub-committee has decided to suspend the Groucho Club’s licence with immediate effect on the basis that the premises is associated with serious crime.
“ This decision follows reports that a serious crime may have taken place at the premises in circumstances linked to a breach in the premises licencing conditions.
“The allegations are subject to an ongoing police investigation and we cannot comment further at this stage.”
The Met has been approached for comment, but has yet to respond.
An expedited review hearing on Tuesday was told that police believed the private members’ club was “associated with serious crime or serious disorder or both”.
Councillors at Westminster City Council held the meeting, the first of two, behind closed doors due to an “ongoing criminal investigation into this serious matter”.
No further details on the crime being investigated by police were given.
Officials will now decide on interim steps — which could involve suspension of the club’s licence — ahead of a final meeting. The police have called for a review of the premises under the Licensing Act 2003, with December 9 given as the date by which to make a final representation, but it is not clear what actions police have asked councillors to take.
Scotland Yard told Westminster City Council in an application submitted on Monday that it believed the Dean Street institution had “failed to uphold the prevention of crime”.
The Groucho Club, on Dean Street, is one of London’s most famous venues, and has long been a popular spot with celebrities, writers, musicians and artists. Earlier this year, it announced its first female CEO as Elli Jafari, and shortly after revealed plans for its second club — in glamorous Wakefield, Yorkshire. It September, the CEO of its parent company Artfarm, Ewan Venters, announced his decision to leave the company.
