The shocking incident at the venue claimed the lives of two people and left a third in a critical condition. The full licensing hearing must take place before any proposals to re-open the venue can be considered.
For full details of the hearing and link to a live stream of the meeting please visit the following webpage:
https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=116&MId=16786
It is expected that the meeting will hear from a number of participants including representatives of the licence holder, the Metropolitan Police, the licensing authority and a number of nominated speakers. Details of participants will be announced during the course of the hearing.
As much as possible of the hearing will be held in the public domain. However the two day hearing will need to include closed sessions where essential to avoid prejudicing the Met Police’s ongoing criminal investigation into the events of December 15, 2022.
There are currently two outstanding applications in relation to the venue, a licence variation submitted by the venue’s operator and a licence review submitted by the Metropolitan Police, both of which will be considered by the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting.
The sub-committee will come to a conclusion on these matters within five working days of the hearings being concluded and the outcome shared with all parties and the general public.
Cllr Mahamed Hashi, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson who lost their lives, as well as with the person who is still in hospital, and all those suffering the trauma of witnessing such distressing scenes at one of our borough’s live music venues.
“The licensing sub-committee has a duty to take such steps as are appropriate and proportionate to promote the licensing objectives including public safety. The council will fully play its role in achieving this aim.”
