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Business News Legal Live Business
Fabric appeal hearing set for end of November
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 5 October 2016
Fabric’s appeal hearing to try to have the decision to revoke its licence overturned will take place on 28 Nov, the club has announced.
As previously reported, Fabric was closed at the beginning of August, pending a licence review in the wake of two recent drug-related deaths at or near the venue. Despite strong arguments in the club’s favour, Islington Council decided to revoke Fabric’s licence a month later. Vowing to fight that ruling, Fabric launched a fund to collect donations towards what are likely to be hefty legal fees – raising over £250,000 in two weeks.
The news of the appeal hearing was provided in a second transparency statement from the club, outlining plans for legal action and how the money donated is being spent.
A large chunk of the money already spent has gone on legal advice. And the club announced yesterday that it has engaged a legal team led by Philip Kolvin QC alongside licensing solicitors Woods Whur, both of whom are working at discounted rates. Another barrister, Patrick Hennessey, has offered to provide legal support free of charge.
That team are now preparing for the first round of Fabric’s fight back, the appeal hearing at Highbury Magistrates Court on 28 Nov.
The lawyers are also hard at work preparing to lobby the government to change the guidance on how the Licensing Act should be applied.
“Philip has just finished the first draft of our request for the need to change the Home Secretaries Guidance under the Licensing Act”, writes Fabric MD Gary Kilbey. “We have put this to a number of trade and music industry organisations and associations to seek their opinion, advice and support. We want to ensure this is something the industry as whole are able to get behind. Once we have finessed the approach and Philip has finalised the draft we will look to present this to the relevant authority”.
Elsewhere, the financial details provided in the statement show that, of the almost £50,000 spent so far, more than £11,000 went on manufacturing and sending out those Save Fabric t-shirts, so you’d better wear them.
