London club allowed to reopen at licensing hearing after alleged rape

The private members’ club, frequented by A-list celebrities, was temporarily closed and had its licence suspended after a woman reported being raped there in November.

Westminster Council revoked the club’s licence on 26 November for 28 days at the request of the Metropolitan police.  Westminster City councillors decided at a meeting on Wednesday (18/12/24) that the venue can reopen once it has met conditions agreed with police.  

Gary Grant, representing the Met Police, said the force had three concerns about how the club was operating.

“Firstly, lax procedures on the admission of members and guests and the recording of who was in their premises,” he said.

“Secondly, insufficient welfare training and procedures that required improvement.

“Thirdly, the inadequacy of the supervision of the toilet areas.”

He added that “other serious matters” were raised in a portion of the meeting held without the press or public present.

Mr Grant said the Met believed the “robust conditions proposed” would address the issues they have raised.

Under stricter new rules, members will only be allowed to bring up to four guests to the venue, and must supervise them at all times, with a requirement for guests’ details to be logged.

The club will be required to enhance monitoring of the club’s toilets, including with CCTV, and to ban and eject any members or guests found sharing a toilet cubicle.