Heaven nightclub shut down after member of staff arrested and charged with rape

The Heaven nightclub in London will be closed for 28 days after police suspended its alcohol licence on the grounds of public safety.

The decision to shut the famed LGBTQIA+ venue, which is based in Charing Cross in the centre of the city, was announced by Westminster Police on Friday (November 15). The suspension is effective immediately.

The move comes after a woman was allegedly raped “in the vicinity of the venue” by a member of Heaven’s security staff on November 1. The police statement continues that other staff then “allegedly ignored her efforts to report the attack”.

A member of security staff has since been arrested and charged with rape, and is currently on remand in prison.

Heaven nightclub will be closed for up to 28 days, effective immediately, following a decision to suspend its alcohol licence.

The decision was made after serious concerns were raised about the venue’s ability to protect its customers.

More details below 🔽 pic.twitter.com/n5Azw3Ur6A

— Westminster Police | Central West BCU (@MPSWestminster) November 15, 2024

Westminster Police note that there was a previous incident in May when three members of the club’s security team were filmed assaulting a customer in the street.

“These incidents raise serious concerns about the venue’s ability to fulfil its obligations to protect its customers, in particular in relation to safeguarding,” the police statement concluded.

The decision to suspend the licence was made by Westminster Council’s licensing committee, and it will remain suspended “until a full hearing can take place”.

The venue has posted on their Instagram that they are “considering our position with regard to an appeal.”

“We are sickened by this allegation but can’t comment as it’s an ongoing criminal investigation. We can only send our thoughts to the alleged victim. Our priority is to put new procedures in place to make sure nothing like this can happen again & gain the confidence of the Council as we move forward”.

A spokesperson for the council told the BBC: “We recognise this venue’s cultural significance but the committee agreed this step is necessary to prevent serious crime and protect the public.

“A full licensing hearing will be held in December where both the police and venue management will have the opportunity to present new evidence.

“This case is currently subject of an ongoing police investigation, and we are unable to comment further at this stage.”

Heaven opened in 1979 and became an influential part of London’s LGBTQIA+ scene, hosting the long-running club night G-A-Y. It was also celebrated for Paul Oakenfold’s acid house nights in the late ‘80s and is sometimes credited as the birthplace of ambient house. The Heaven name has also been extended to clubs in Gran Canaria and Ibiza.

In February, the club was reported to be facing closure after a rent increase of £320,000. The owners entered into an arbitration dispute with their landlord, The Arch Company and say they were forced “to go public” with the dispute.

“If you wonder why so many venues are closing. If you wonder why we are losing more LGBT Venues. Look no further than LANDLORDS,” read a post by the club’s founder and G-A-Y owner Jeremy Joseph.

“We have been fighting them for five months and they aren’t willing to back down,” the post continued. “It’s time to put public pressure on Landlords, this isn’t just about Heaven, this is about every hospitality venue because if our rent goes up, it will increase the rent of other venues because in arbitration, they use other comparable rents to value yours.”