London’s iconic Heaven nightclub will remain shut after Westminster City Council upheld a suspension of its license following allegations of rape involving one of its security staff. The club will remain closed until a full licensing hearing is scheduled for next month.
The decision came after a lengthy meeting on November 19, during which council officials and the Metropolitan Police raised serious concerns about public safety at the venue. The closure follows an incident on November 1, in which an 18-year-old woman alleged she was raped by a nightclub bouncer outside the premises.
Council Ruling and Police Concerns
The council stated that reopening the club without fully addressing police concerns would endanger public safety. A council lawyer explained: “The committee felt that permitting the premises to open without the premises license holder working in partnership with police would still put members of the public at risk.”
The Metropolitan Police described the alleged rape as the “grossest breach of trust,” accusing the venue of being a “crime generator.” Gary Grant, representing the Met, criticized the nightclub for a series of failures, including allowing a security guard to operate under a fake name and without the right to work in the UK.
“It’s difficult to think of a greater [breach of] trust than [allegedly] exploiting a paralytically drunk woman,” Grant said. “It’s astonishing that a door supervisor could disappear unnoticed and then allegedly carry out this act.”
Incident Details
The alleged victim and her friends reportedly queued for two hours to enter Heaven on November 1 but were refused entry due to intoxication. The suspect, identified as 47-year-old Morenikeji Adewole, reportedly approached the woman and offered to help her gain entry. He then allegedly led her to a car on a nearby side street, where the assault occurred.
The victim returned to the club to report the incident to staff but was told to come back the next day. Staff allegedly did not contact the police or take steps to safeguard her. The following day, the victim reported the incident to the police, leading to Adewole’s arrest. He has since been charged with rape and remanded in custody. Adewole is set to appear at Southwark Crown Court on December 11.
Past Issues and Licensing Conditions
The Met Police also highlighted a separate incident in May this year, where members of Heaven’s security team were allegedly filmed assaulting a customer outside the venue. The council and police are now reviewing the venue’s operational practices, including security staffing and management oversight.
Jeremy Joseph, the nightclub’s license holder, expressed shock and devastation over the allegations, offering to implement additional safety measures, including reduced capacity, body-worn cameras for staff, and stricter vetting for security personnel. Joseph also promised to treat security staff with the same disciplinary standards applied to in-house employees.
“We are a responsible company and report everything to the police,” Joseph said. “We should be credited for tackling these issues, not penalized.”
Next Steps
Heaven will remain closed for 28 days as investigations continue, and public safety concerns are addressed. The full hearing will determine whether the nightclub can reopen under new conditions or face further restrictions.
The case has raised broader concerns about safety and accountability within London’s nightlife venues, particularly in safeguarding vulnerable patrons and ensuring proper oversight of security staff.
