London Astoria, who assumed they had secured a new license when the Magistrates Court overturned a decision by Westminster City Council to knock back a licence renewal, are facing a longer legal fight that they hoped. A resolute City Council is now going to the County Court to appeal against the decision of the Magistrate's Court. Speaking to Reuters a spokesperson for Westminster City Council said: "We are seeking further legal advice as how best to proceed but in the meantime we are working with the club to ensure that the general public's safety is paramount. Any improvements to a bad situation are welcome. But now we're taking this further up to the foodchain to a Crown Court."
The licencing troubles for the venue began when there was a shooting at that So Solid Crew party in 2001 – though the council stress that is not the only reason for their concern pointing out that in the eight months up to May last year there were 152 calls to emergency services, 27 assaults and 15 more reported assaults. But Mean Fiddler chairman Vince Power insisted the company had dealt with past problems: "We've had problems, but they're now solved, the police said things are now OK, and this is now getting political. This would be an appalling waste of public money, and I struggle to understand what the council would stand to gain from seeking its closure."