Groucho Club to reopen following alleged rape
London’s The Groucho Club is to reopen after its licence was put under review following an alleged rape at the premises.
Westminster Council had forced the private members’ club in Soho to close at the request of police following claims a “recent serious criminal offence” had taken place at the premises on 13 November.
The council’s licensing committee reviewed the venue’s licence on Wednesday and agreed it could reopen subject to conditions agreed with the police.
A representative for the club told the committee that they sympathised with the alleged victim and agreed to work with the Met Police on safety improvements.
A 34-year-old man arrested on suspicion of raping a woman at The Groucho Club was bailed until February.
The licensing committee said new conditions agreed between the police and Groucho’s management meant the club could reopen as long as members were limited to inviting four guests on to the premises and accompanied them at all times.
Among the conditions ordered by the committee will be for customer toilets to be checked every 30 minutes.
Committee chair Aziz Toki said the conditions were “appropriate and proportionate” and said the club could reopen once they had been met.
