London’s Groucho Club will reopen in January following an allegation of rape on its premises. The members-only had its license temporarily suspended last month amid a police investigation into the claim.
Artfarm, a hospitality company set up by Hauser & Wirth dealers Iwan and Manuela Wirth in 2014, has majority owned the club for the last two years. The firm reportedly bought its stake in the institution, which is frequented by A-list celebrities, for $50 million. The Groucho is run separately to the other operations owned by Artfarm, which include The Audley in Mayfair, The Fife Arms in Scotland, and various venues in Bruton, Somerset.
The Groucho’s license was put under review while police investigated a “serious criminal offense” that allegedly happened at the venue on November 13. A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape. He has reportedly been bailed until February.
Groucho’s license was revoked by Westminster Council on November 26 for 28 days following a request by the Metropolitan Police. During a meeting of the licensing committee on Wednesday, the club was handed back its license on the condition it would take measures to improve safety.
The BBC reported that the committee said, “new conditions agreed between the police and Groucho’s management meant the club could reopen as long as members were limited to inviting four guests on to the premises and accompanied them at all times.” On top of this, customer toilets must also be checked every half an hour.
According to the BBC, on Wednesday the Metropolitan Police cited three concerns about how the club was being run. They were “lax procedures on the admission of members and guests and the recording of who was in their premises”; “insufficient welfare training and procedures that required improvement”; and “the inadequacy of the supervision of the toilet areas.”
The police reportedly said “other serious matters” had also been raised.
A Groucho spokesperson told The Art Newspaper: “We have been working closely with the police and Westminster City Council over the past few weeks and we are pleased that the temporary suspension of our license has been lifted.”
“We are grateful to our members and staff for their continued patience and support and to the Metropolitan Police and Westminster City Council for their collaboration,” they added. “We look forward to welcoming members and guests back to the Groucho Club on January 10, when the club will reopen following our usual Christmas closure period.”
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