Brixton Academy licence hearing scheduled for September
The immediate future of the venue will be decided by Lambeth councillors next month
The future of O2 Academy Brixton is expected to be decided in a licence hearing next month.
The London venue has had its licence suspended for over eight months following a fatal crowd crush at an Asake concert in December, which killed two people and left another seriously injured.
In April, the Metropolitan Police called for Lambeth Council to revoke the venue’s licence permanently, saying they had “lost confidence” in the venue operator, Academy Music Group (AMG).
At the time, a spokesperson for the Live Nation-affiliated operators said it was fully cooperating with the police and council, and has presented “detailed proposals” that it believes will “enable the venue to reopen safely.”
A Licensing Review Hearing into the immediate future of the Brixton Academy will be held at Lambeth Town Hall on 11th and 12th September. Here, Lambeth councillors will have to decide whether to allow the venue to stay open under new proposed terms or to strip it of its licence.
In a statement, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) & Save Our Scene, called this a “critical moment” for the iconic nightspot, saying that they would need “as much support as possible throughout this hearing.”
Lambeth’s licensing authority has received 18,000 submissions in support of reinstating the Academy’s licence via the NTIA’s letter-writing campaign. A report collating all the representations from members of the public will be published on Lambeth Council’s website a week before the hearing. An online petition to save the venue has also passed 115,000 signatures. You can support the campaign here.
Faithless’ Sister Bliss has shared her support for the cause, tweeting: “@faithless have graced the stage there many times — and yet a terrible tragedy happened there only recently. But it is hugely short sighted to shut the venue permanently- generating jobs, local economy- bringing the best music to London! #SaveBrixtonAcademy.”
Read more details on the licensing issues facing the O2 Academy Brixton, including the Met Police’s ongoing dispute with venue operator AMG, here.
