Iconic London club loved by celebrities closed over ‘serious crime’ allegation

Soho’s Groucho Club has been closed with immediate effect over claims it is associated with ‘serious crime’.

For now the closure is temporary while Westminster City Council reviews its licence, which is currently suspended.

This comes after an allegation that ‘a serious crime may have taken place’ at the Dean Street establishment, although what that is is not yet publicly known.

Police, who are currently investigating, requested this intervention by the local authority under the Licensing Act 2003.

In an application submitted on Monday, the Met told the council it believed the private members club had ‘failed to uphold the prevention of crime’.

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.’

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.’

On Tuesday, a closed-door review hearing at the council heard that police believe Groucho Club was ‘associated with serious crime or serious disorder or both.

The club has until December 9 to make its representation, after which the council will hold a final meeting to decide its fate.

What action police have asked the council to take is not yet publicly known.

A police spokesperson said: ‘The suspension will take effect immediately and follows an application made by the Metropolitan Police Service on the grounds that the venue had breached its licensing conditions and had been the scene of a recent serious criminal offence.

‘The investigation into that offence is ongoing and as a result, there is a limit to the detail that can be provided. Today’s hearing was held in private for the same reason.

‘Further details will be released when possible.’

First opened in 1985 in the ‘epicentre of cultural movers and shakers’, Groucho Club broke from the ‘stuffy gentlemen’s clubs’ by welcoming creatives of any gender, its website says.

Since then, its doors have welcomed the likes of former US President Bill Clinton, One Direction star Harry Styles, model Cara Delevingne, and celebrity chef Nigella Lawson.

For £1,250 per year – plus a sign-up fee of £500 – its roughly 5,000 members can enjoy its bars, two restaurants, private event rooms and 20 bedrooms.

Groucho Club announced its first expansion earlier this year – with plans for a second location in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where it is converting Bretton Hall into a club and hotel with 60 rooms.

It had previously announced its first female CEO, Elli Jafari.

In September, the CEO of its parent company Artfarm – Ewan Venters – resigned due to a disagreement over its direction.

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