London club loved by celebrities re-opens under strict rules after rape claims
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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.
![[LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: A general view of The Groucho Club on November 30, 2024 in London, England. The Groucho Club, a private members' club in Soho, has been forced to close after its licence was suspended amid an investigation by the Metropolitan Police into an alleged serious criminal offence. (Photo by Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_231430162-bc17.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
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.
![[Mandatory Credit: Photo by Nils Jorgensen/REX/Shutterstock (152191d) THE GROUCHO CLUB LONDON, BRITAIN]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_231040871-3a97.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
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. 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.
