London club loved by celebrities re-opens under strict rules after rape claims

Westminster City Council has now decided to life the suspension with immediate effect (Picture: Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutt)

A private member’s club has had their licence reinstated with heavy conditions following allegations a woman was raped inside the venue.

The Groucho Club in Soho, London, which is popular with A-list celebrities, had its licence temporarily suspended following reports of the attack on November 13.

A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape and has since been bailed.

Westminster City Council has now decided to lift the suspension with immediate effect, with some members of club staff breaking down in tears after hearing the news.

But the council’s licensing sub-committee said the club must comply with new conditions which will be decided upon in the coming days.

The Metropolitan Police has already made 13 recommendations for the new license conditions, which include proper staff welfare training and a tightening-up of ‘previously lax procedures’ relating to members and their guests.

All toilets which were not for disabled customers should also be ‘monitored by a CCTV operative’, and a trained welfare officer should be at the venue.

For a six-month period, the same toilets would be supervised by an attendant.

The Groucho Club, a private members’ club in Soho, has been forced to close after its licence was suspended(Picture: Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)

Further proposals stated that disabled toilets be locked at all times and accessible only by a Radar toilet key, and all customer toilets apart from the disabled ones must be inspected by staff or security at regular intervals.

There would be a one-person limit in each cubicle at any time and anyone in breach of that would be ‘immediately ejected’.

Regarding membership, the force suggested a minimum 48-hour window between application and acceptance as a member.

Only members, ‘bona fide guests’ and people attending a private pre-booked party would be able to take part in licensable activities.

Up to four guests would be allowed per member unless they were dining at the restaurant, and guests would also have to provide their name and telephone number on entry.

Anyone in breach of new conditions would be ‘immediately ejected’ (Picture: Nils Jorgensen/REX/Shutterstock)

The information must be electronically stored and potentially made available for inspection by the city council or police on request, the Met proposed.

Guests must enter the club with a member and remain in their company while inside, Mr Grant said, and front-of-house staff would undertake welfare and vulnerability training.

Gary Grant, representing the Metropolitan Police, said: ‘The police investigation led to meetings between police licensing officers of Westminster and the management of The Groucho Club.

‘As a result of those decisions it became apparent that there were a number of breaches of the licensing conditions at the time of the trigger-offence that brings us here.’

Philip Kolvin KC, for Groucho, said: ‘On behalf of the club, we are grateful to all parties that have spoken – I don’t think anything has been said that we would have any great disagreement with.

‘The Groucho Club has been in existence for almost 40 years and it is the first time that it finds itself under review.

‘It is chastened to be here, it fully understands the seriousness of the situation and the circumstances that brought us here, and obviously it is concerned for the victim of this alleged offence.’

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