Groucho Club to reopen next month

Reopening follows licensing review, after alleged rape at the Club last month

The Groucho Club. (Photo credit: Groucho Club website.)

The Groucho Club is due to reopen on 10 January 2025, following a review of its licence by Westminster City Council, which followed an alleged rape in the Club last month.

The BBC have reported on the licensing hearing held earlier today, when the Metropolitan Police expressed three main concerns about the Groucho being in breach of its licence:

“Firstly, lax procedures on the admission of members and guests and the recording of who was in their premises.

"Secondly, insufficient welfare training and procedures that required improvement.

"Thirdly, the inadequacy of the supervision of the toilet areas."

There were also "other serious matters" raised by the police in a closed portion of the meeting held in secret.

The Groucho Club was represented at today’s hearing by Philip Colvin KC, who argued that the recent incident resulting in an arrest on suspicion of rape was a "one-off lapse in standards".

The Club filed an application for a new licence under fresh conditions, engaging Thomas & Thomas Partners LLP, the capital’s leading licensing solicitors. Westminster’s Licensing Sub-Committee agreed to reopen the Club next month, on the adoption of the new licensing conditions aimed at addressing the police’s concerns. The Guardian reports:

“During the hearing, the Metropolitan police made 13 recommendations for the new licence conditions, including properly supervising toilet areas, staff welfare training and a tightening up of “previously lax procedures” relating to members and their guests.”

Police also suggested a minimum 48-hour window between application and acceptance as a member.

A 34-year-old male suspect who was arrested, on suspicion of a rape at the Club last month, has been bailed until a court appearance in February.

The Groucho Club has already emailed its members with news of the licensing decision, and the proposed reopening date of 10 January 2025.