London’s iconic Groucho Club closes after “serious” crime

London’s iconic Groucho Club has shut down, following claims of a “serious criminal offence” that took place at the premises.

According to a new report by BBC News, the Westminster City Council confirmed that it had suspended the venue in Soho, following a request from the Metropolitan Police. The Groucho Club is reported as having cooperated with the licensing subcommittee from the council, and accepted the decision to close following the seriousness of the allegations.

Few details have been shared about the incident at hand, but a full hearing about the licence is scheduled to be held within 28 days of police submitting the review application.

“[The closure] follows reports that a serious crime may have taken place at the premises in circumstances linked to a breach in the premises licencing conditions,” said a council spokesperson. “The allegations are subject to an ongoing police investigation and we cannot comment further at this stage.”

The Met Police said that the investigation is ongoing, and it could only provide limited information due to it being “a recent serious criminal offence”. It also added that further details will be released “when possible”.

According to the BBC, the reason that the investigation has been publicly revealed is that the force had to make an appeal for the club’s licence to be suspended.

NME has reached out to The Groucho Club for comment.

The Soho private members club has been open since 1895 and has had a long association with high-profile celebrities. Located on Dean Street in Soho, it describes itself as a “world-renowned arts & media private members club” that “remains a bastion and refuge for arts, literature and media folk in the bohemian heart of London’s West End”.

It has also been at the centre of headlines over the years because of the famous faces it has welcomed.

For example, earlier this year Lily Allen recalled the time she was banned from The Groucho Club for a year. The singer and actor has been sober for nearly five years, and recalled how she struggled with binge drinking and drug abuse in the past.

Back in 2018, Damon Albarn caused a panic after he left a laptop containing a master copy of the new Gorillaz album in the back of a taxi. He reportedly made the blunder after he went drinking at The Groucho Club.

More recently, Alan McGee – the former boss of the label who launched Oasis to stardom – recalled the story behind his legendary photo with Liam Gallagher. He said that the image, taken outside Ronnie Scott’s, actually captured the frontman shouting at him after going drinking at Groucho Club.

Other famous faces who have been photographed at the venue include George Michael, Freddie Mercury, Kate Moss, Run DMC and Princess Eugenie.

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