By Alice Grahns and Lea Vitezic
At the beginning of September this year, one of the world’s most famous nightclubs lost its licence.
After two drug-related deaths, Islington Council decided to close the doors of Fabric.
This legal battle has shed light on the challenges that clubs in London are facing – in the past decade, many nightclubs in the city have been forced to shut down.
The social structure has changed and as a result the nightlife scene has experienced major changes in regulations.
“The land has become too valuable to leave as an entertainment premises, it’s better to knock up a block of flats,” says Andrew Czezowski, co-founder of the influential London nightclub The Fridge.
Czezowski and his partner Susan Carrington experienced those issues with their clubs – they concluded “there was no fun anymore” and therefore decided to retire.
One of the people still in the nightlife business, Alex Proud, the founder of Proud Camden, told Artefact that running a club in London has become a daily struggle.
“I had a licence review here four years ago, and I was very nearly closed down. Two or three guys got in a fist fight and the police turned up and tried to shut me down,” he said.
Although Fabric has announced they are officially opening again, they are still in a fragile position.
So what is the future for London’s nightlife? Will it be possible for authorities and club managements to reach a consensus?
Artefact investigates.
Featured image by Alice Grahns and Lea Vitezic