London’s most renowned gay nightclub has avoided permanent closure following an alleged rape involving a security guard and an intoxicated 18-year-old patron.
Heaven Nightclub’s licence was revoked last month following the incident on November 1, and it confronted the possibility of permanent closure during a hearing on Friday.
Councillors resolved to permit the Charing Cross venue to resume operations and terminate the suspension, provided that stringent additional conditions, including a ‘last entrance’ time of 3am, a prohibition on line drinking, and enhanced security measures, were adhered to.
In announcing the judgement, Westminster councillor Maggie Carman concurred with the Met Police that Heaven Nightclub was “linked to serious crime” and stated that “the horrific and traumatic incident experienced by the victim” had been paramount in the committee’s considerations.
She added: “There has been clear evidence of a change in the general management of the premises. The premises licence holder has also been working in partnership with the Met Police.
“The conditions agreed between the Met Police and the premises licence holder provide a turning point for a venue which provides an important service to everyone, in particular the LGBTQIA+ community. The committee recognises the iconic nature of this premises.”
Westminster City Council heard how the victim of the alleged rape was removed from the club’s “very long queue” while she was drunk and then “preyed upon” by a bouncer.
“She was preyed upon by an individual who was employed as a door supervisor by the Heaven Nightclub,” said lawyer Gary Grant, representing the Met Police.
“She had been waiting in that queue for some two hours before being removed and falling prey to the attack.
“After that allegation she was raped in a car by that door supervisor, she returned to the Heaven Nightclub to report what had happened and she was told by the head of security to come back the next day.
“There was no report to the police.”
In another incident on May 7, three bouncers were seen filmed on camera beating up a customer on the floor in a “reprehensible” attack. All three were later fired.
The Met Police had said it did not want the venue to close despite the serious incidents, citing its importance to the LGBT+ community.
They have agreed to a slew of conditions on the club’s operation with the venue, which officers said was intended to protect “vulnerable” drunken customers being preyed on by “opportunist criminals” in the Heaven Nightclubs queue.
These have been backed by councillors, allowing the Heaven Nightclub to reopen
“The police recognise the importance of Heaven Nightclub to the gay community in London and further afield. Police have never sought the permanent closure of this nightclub,” said Mr Grant.
“What the police have done unapologetically is sought to ensure that the sort of incidents which have led us here will not happen again and the sort of risks to the vulnerable people in that queue are reduced.”
The Heaven Nightclub said it was “appalled” by the alleged rape, adding that it would continue to work closely with police.
It said it had been “duped” by the bouncer’s use of a forged security licence, and that it had not been aware he was not registered.
“All involved in Heaven Nightclub are appalled by what occurred and of course gave the police the fullest possible cooperation to bring the offender to justice,” said Phillip Kolvin KC, representing Heaven.
“It’s noted the offender has been arrested and of course Heaven Nightclub will continue to assist as required in any process that may now follow.”
He added: “Heaven Nightclub’s heart goes out to the victim of this offence. What happened to her goes contrary to absolutely everything Heaven stands for.”
UPDATE 13.12.24
A nightclub bouncer, Morenikeji Adewole, has refuted allegations of raping a woman near the Heaven nightclub in Charing Cross.
Morenikeji Adewole, 47, is charged with executing a “predatory” assault on a woman adjacent to the Heaven nightclub in central London during the early hours of November 1.
The Metropolitan Police previously stated that staff purportedly disregarded her attempts to report the event.
Heaven Nightclub, inaugurated in 1979, is one of London’s most distinguished homosexual nightclubs and has been in operation for over 40 years.
The venue was shut down by Westminster City Council due to public safety concerns, but has subsequently been permitted to reopen under stringent terms.
Morenikeji Adewole, residing on Dunlop Close in Dartford, appeared in the dock at Southwark Crown Court attired in black, where he refuted the allegation.
Judge Justin Cole remarked that the purported assault was described as “a predatory rape.”
Morenikeji Adewole has been remanded in detention, with his trial scheduled to commence next year.
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