Groucho Club to reopen after alleged rape

London’s The Groucho club is to reopen after a review of its license following an alleged rape on the premises.

The private members’ club in Soho was forced to close at the request of police by Westminster Council on 13 November following claims there had been “recent serious criminal offences” at the premises.

The council’s licensing committee reviewed the venue’s license on Wednesday and agreed it could reopen subject to conditions agreed with police.

A representative of the club told the committee that they sympathized with the alleged victim and agreed to work with the Met Police on security improvements.

A 34-year-old man arrested on suspicion of raping a woman at the Groucho Club has been bailed until February.

The licensing committee said new conditions agreed between the police and Groucho’s management mean the club can reopen, as long as members are limited to inviting four guests on the premises and staying with them at all times.

Customer toilets will be checked every 30 minutes in the conditions ordered by the committee.

Committee chairman Aziz Toki said the conditions were “fair and proportionate” and said the club could reopen once they were met.

Gary Grant, representing the Met Police, said the force had three concerns about how the club was being operated.

“First, lax procedures in entry of members and guests and recording of who was on their premises,” he said.

“Secondly, inadequate welfare training and processes that need improvement.

“Third, inadequacy of maintenance of toilet areas.”

He said “other serious matters” were raised in a part of the meeting held without press or public attendance.

Mr Grant said the Met Office believed the “proposed stronger conditions” would address the issues raised.

Helen Lederer, a member of Groucho’s for more than 30 years, said the club was a “unique institution” and urged councilors to allow it to reopen.

He told the committee, “It is well known in London and around the world. If it went, it would be a great loss.”

Philip Colvin Casey, representing Groucho, said that the club’s management had been “punished” for attending the meeting.

He said the club had worked with the Met Police to institute a number of measures to improve security and suggested the club had suffered a “one-off lapse in standards”.