London’s Groucho Club forced to close after claims of ‘serious crime’ on premises

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The Groucho Club, the well-known media haunt in the heart of London’s Soho, has been forced to close its doors for members after its licence was suspended following reports of a “serious crime” on the premises.

The private club — which is famous for its celebrity members and customers across arts, film and TV — said on Tuesday that there would be a full hearing before Christmas of its licence, which was temporarily revoked by Westminster City Council.

A council spokesperson said that, following a request from the Metropolitan Police, it had suspended the Groucho’s licence “with immediate effect on the basis that the premises is associated with serious crime”.

It added: “This decision follows reports that a serious crime may have taken place at the premises in circumstances linked to a breach in the premises licensing conditions. The allegations are subject to an ongoing police investigation and we cannot comment further at this stage.”

The decision means that the Groucho will be shut for one of its busiest periods in the run-up to the Christmas holidays.

“We are sorry to inform you that we have made the decision to temporarily close the club. We have received an application to review our licence which we take very seriously,” Elli Jafari, chief executive of the club, said in an email to members on Tuesday.

“As a consequence, the club’s licence has been suspended by agreement with Westminster City Council and we have made the decision to close the club pending a full hearing before Christmas.”

Jafari confirmed to the Financial Times that the club’s licence had been suspended “by agreement”, pending a full review, and declined to comment further.

The Met Police did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The news comes just months after the Groucho announced it was setting up its first venue outside London at Bretton Hall, a 300-year-old, Grade II-listed manor house in Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Artfarm — an art and hospitality company founded by Iwan and Manuela Wirth, the couple behind the Hauser & Wirth gallery — bought the Groucho in 2022 for £40mn.

The club has since attempted to bring in younger members since its 1990s heyday, when it attracted a louche selection of Britpop stars, artists, advertising executives and hangers-on.

The Groucho, which opened in central London in 1985, was named after the famous Groucho Marx claim that he would not “want to belong to any club that would accept me as one of its members”. Membership now costs up to £1,500 a year, depending on rates and age.

The club generated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of £0.4mn in 2023 on revenues of £8.9mn, according to company accounts.

Additional reporting by William Wallis in London